New Delhi: Olympic gold medalist and FIFA World Cup champion Lionel Messi, along with the Argentina national football team, will travel to India for a friendly match in October. The game will take place in Kerala, a state renowned for its football enthusiasm.
This will mark Messi’s second trip to India, having previously participated in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela in Kolkata in September 2011. Argentina triumphed 1-0 at Salt Lake Stadium, with Nicolas Otamendi, a World Cup winner with Messi who still plays for the national team, scoring the only goal of the match in the 70th minute.
Last year, Messi’s teammate Emiliano Martinez, who earned the Golden Glove at the 2022 World Cup, visited Kolkata to unveil the ‘Pele-Maradona-Sobers’ gate at the Salt Lake Stadium. With 112 goals in 191 appearances, Messi ranks second in the list of all-time international goal scorers and is widely considered one of the greatest players in football history.
On the international front, Messi has won one World Cup, one Finalissima, and two Copa Américas with Argentina. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has also claimed 12 domestic league titles, seven domestic cups, and four UEFA Champions League trophies at the club level.
Messi’s former club, Barcelona is also scheduled to visit India in April for an El Clasico match against Real Madrid legends.
