Messi's Argentina to miss game in Kerala in 2026

IANS May 16, 2025 396 views

Lionel Messi's Argentine football team will not be playing in Kerala in 2026, despite earlier discussions and hopes fueled by Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman. The decision follows Argentina's confirmed schedule, which includes games in China, Qatar, and Africa. Messi last played in India in 2011, and fans, especially from Malappuram and Kozhikode, have been eagerly awaiting his return. While the disappointment is palpable, Kerala will have to continue waiting, as this absence leaves a significant gap in Kerala's vibrant football culture.

"The wait continues for football enthusiasts in the state." - Article Source
Messi's Argentina to miss game in Kerala in 2026
Thiruvananthapuram, May 16: Kerala football buffs will now have to wait to see their favourite player Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning Argentine football team play on Kerala soil. 

Key Points

1

Kerala missed out on Messi's 2026 match schedule

2

Messi last played in India in 2011

3

Malappuram and Kozhikode host Argentina's biggest Kerala fanbase

4

Abdurahiman led efforts fail despite prior talks with AFA

It was in November last year Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman and his team after huge efforts involving several rounds of discussions with Argentina Football Association (AFA) following a meeting held in Spain, it was announced that Messi and his team will play at least one international match in Kerala as part of their exhibition matches schedule. But, with the schedule of Argentina for 2026 now out, Kerala is no where in the scheme of things as the South American nation is scheduled to play in China, Qatar and Africa.

Lionel Messi last played in India in 2011, when Argentina faced Venezuela in an international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Among the enthusiastic fans in attendance were several football lovers from Kerala, including the current CPI(M) General Secretary, M.A. Baby, who had come to cheer for Messi.

Interestingly, in the football-crazy districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode, the Argentina national team enjoys the largest support base—a trend that has continued for many years. This support reached new heights after Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Abdurahiman, a native of Malappuram, has been working tirelessly to bring Lionel Messi to play in Kerala. Last year, he led a delegation to Spain and announced that the much-anticipated event would take place in the last quarter of 2026. However, the hopes of both Abdurahiman and the Kerala government have been dashed, and the wait continues for football enthusiasts in the state.

More importantly, Kerala is set to go to the polls in April/May 2026 to elect a new government and the next edition of the FIFA World Cup is also scheduled to take place in 2026.

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rahul K.
Really disappointing news for football fans in Kerala! The government tried their best but looks like Argentina prioritized commercial markets over passionate fans. Maybe next time we should invite Portugal instead - Ronaldo has huge fan following in India too! 🇮🇳⚽
P
Priya M.
As someone from Malappuram, this breaks my heart 💔 We've been supporting Argentina for generations. The government should have secured this deal properly instead of making premature announcements. Now it feels like another political jumla before elections.
A
Arjun S.
Maybe it's better this way. Instead of spending crores on one exhibition match, Kerala should invest in grassroots football development. We have so much talent but lack proper infrastructure. Focus on our own players first!
S
Sneha R.
The Argentina team doesn't know what they're missing! Kerala's football culture is unmatched - the passion here is like South America. Hope they reconsider after seeing this disappointment among fans. Vamos Argentina! ❤️🤍💙
V
Vikram N.
Typical! China gets everything while India gets ignored. Our sports diplomacy needs improvement. Brazil came to play in 2014, Argentina should have shown similar respect to their Indian fans. Time for ISL to step up and bring big names.
M
Meera P.
As a football mom in Kochi, my son is devastated. He's been practicing Messi's free kicks every evening since the announcement. Government should at least arrange live screening of Argentina matches with special events to make up for this.

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Lionel Messi Argentina football team Kerala match Abdurahiman Messi fans