Owing to the huge financial implications, India has turned down the golden opportunity to host Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning Argentina team for a friendly match this month. According to a report in the Times of India, Argentina were keen to play one of their two friendly matches in India in order to show appreciation for the massive support Messi's team received from fans during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
"The Argentina FA reached out to us for a friendly, but it was just not possible to arrange such a huge sum,” AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran told Time of India.
"For such a match to happen here, we need the backing of a strong partner. The kind of money that Argentina command (as appearance fee) is huge and we have limitations in terms of our economic situation in football," he added.
The No. ranked FIFA team, Argentina have become the most sought-after national side since winning the World Cup in Qatar last year. If reports are to be believed, the cost of hosting Argentina would cost anywhere between Rs 32-40 crore.
Argentina were keen on playing their friendly matches in South Asia and, as a result, India and Bangladesh had a chance to stage a friendly game each in their country, But due to financial constraints, both Asian countries missed the chance to host box-office Argentina team that is led by Messi.
After India and Bangladesh failed to cash in on the opportunity, Argentina played a friendly match against Australia in Beijing on June 15 and against Indonesia in Jakarta on June 19.
The last time Argentina and Messi played in India was in 2011 when they crossed swords against Venezuela at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
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