Lionel Messi’s long-awaited return to India has been postponed, according to an official announcement by the Argentine Football Association (AFA). The world champions were expected to play a friendly match against Australia in Kochi, Kerala, on November 17. However, the AFA confirmed that the fixture has been postponed due to delays in FIFA permissions and logistical challenges in Kerala’s preparations. Instead, the Argentine team, led by coach Lionel Scaloni, will travel to Spain for training before heading to Luanda to play their only friendly match against Angola on November 14. Following the match, the squad will return to Europe for further training sessions until November 18, coinciding with the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup.
Anto Augustine, the event sponsor working alongside the Kerala Sports Ministry, shared on Facebook that the match had to be postponed after discussions with the AFA, citing procedural delays and scheduling constraints. Reports from Argentine media suggest that Kerala’s lack of readiness to host the team within the set timeline was also a key reason behind the decision. The match is now expected to be rescheduled for March 2026.
Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman revealed that Messi was even willing to visit the state independently, but the government insisted on hosting the full national squad together. The postponement has sparked political debate in Kerala, with Opposition Leader V. D. Satheesan criticizing the state government for using Messi’s planned arrival for political mileage, stating that they should now take responsibility for his absence.
Lionel Messi’s last and only visit to India came in 2011, when he captained Argentina in a friendly match against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, where Argentina won 1-0. The excitement around his potential Kerala visit had generated immense anticipation among fans, and despite the postponement, football enthusiasts remain hopeful that Messi and the Argentine team will finally play on Indian soil in 2026.
