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The much-anticipated visit of Lionel Messi and the Argentina national football team to India seems unlikely now, with reports emerging that organisers have failed to secure the required funds to host the reigning FIFA World Cup champions.
Back in November, Kerala’s Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman had announced that Argentina would be playing two international friendlies in the state in 2025, with at least one of those fixtures expected to be held in Kochi. The announcement had sparked excitement among Indian football fans, especially those in Kerala.
Funding Falls Short: ₹100 Crore Was the Target
However, recent developments suggest that the organisers could not manage to raise the estimated ₹100 crore needed to facilitate the Argentina tour. Out of this, approximately ₹70 crore was reportedly designated solely as the appearance fee for Messi and his team.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express, the deadline to finalise the agreement has now lapsed, and the failure to meet financial obligations has forced the organisers to drop the plan. In the meantime, the Argentine football federation has begun exploring alternative destinations.
Argentina Set to Tour China, Angola, and Qatar Instead
Citing Argentine sports journalist Gastón Edul, the report claims that Lionel Messi’s side is expected to play two friendlies in China, along with one match each in Angola and Qatar. Although the official confirmation of these fixtures is still pending, Argentina’s calendar for the FIFA windows in October and November 2025 appears to be filling up fast—leaving little to no room for a potential trip to India.
Initial Sponsorship Model Fails to Deliver
Initially, the responsibility of organising the friendlies was given to a faction of the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association (AKGSMA), which intended to raise the ₹100 crore through their e-commerce platform, the ‘Oloppo’ app. Despite ambitious plans, the campaign failed to gain the expected momentum.
In light of this, the Kerala state government reportedly transferred the sponsorship rights to Reporter Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd, which owns the Malayalam news channel Reporter TV. However, that shift didn’t seem to improve the financial outlook either.
HSBC's Support Added Hope, But Silence Now Prevails
In March 2025, HSBC India, in partnership with the Argentine national team to boost football's popularity in India and Singapore, had announced that the squad would visit India later in the year. That endorsement reignited hopes among fans about witnessing Messi in action on Indian soil. However, the bank has not issued any follow-up statements, adding to the uncertainty.
Kerala Sports Minister Stays Tight-Lipped
When approached for a comment, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman chose not to elaborate on the situation. “The sponsors will respond to the queries,” he briefly told TNIE.
As of now, all signs indicate that the dream of witnessing Lionel Messi play in India—at least in 2025—may be slipping away due to funding roadblocks and missed deadlines.
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