Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi, along with the Argentina national football team, will be visiting India for an exhibition match in October.
The match is scheduled to take place in Kerala, a state known for its fervent passion for football.
This will mark Messi’s second visit to India, having previously played in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela in Kolkata in September 2011. Argentina won that match 1-0 at Salt Lake Stadium, with Nicolás Otamendi, who later won the World Cup with Messi and continues to represent the national team, scoring the only goal in the 70th minute.
In a related event last year, Messi’s teammate Emiliano Martinez, who won the Golden Glove award at the 2022 World Cup, visited Kolkata to inaugurate the ‘Pele-Maradona-Sobers’ gate at Salt Lake Stadium.
Regarded by many as one of the greatest players of all time, Messi is second on the list for most international goals in football, with 112 goals in 191 appearances. On the international stage, he has won one World Cup, one Finalissima, and two Copa Américas with Argentina.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has also enjoyed immense success at the club level, securing 12 domestic league titles, seven domestic cups, and four UEFA Champions League trophies.
Additionally, Messi’s former club, Barcelona, is scheduled to visit India in April for an El Clasico match against Real Madrid’s legends.
