Lionel Messi's India trip reportedly cancelled as organisers fail to raise Rs 100 crore

Lionel Messi and the Argentina football team’s supposed visit to Kerala, India, is in doubt now as the organisers have reportedly failed to raise the required money for hosting the 2022 World Cup champions. Last November, Kerala state Minister for Sports V Abdurahiman had announced that Argentina and Messi would be playing two international friendlies in the state in 2025. At least one of the matches was to be scheduled in Kochi.

But now it has come out that the organisers have failed to raise the minimum Rs 100 crore required to arrange the matches. Rs 70 crore was reportedly needed just as the appearance fee for the Argentina team.

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No Messi in India in 2025

A report in the New Indian Express says that the deadline to confirm the agreement has ended with the oraganisers failing to meet the necessary financial commitments. Argentina, meanwhile, has started exploring other options.

As per the report, Argentine sports journalist Gastón Edul has said that the La Albiceleste will play two matches in China and one each in Angola and Qatar. While the schedule has not been communicated officially, it appears that Argentina are already booked for October and November FIFA friendly windows.

It further added that the sponsorship was initially granted to a faction of the All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association (AKGSMA), which aimed to raise the required Rs 100 crore through sales on its ‘Oloppo’ app.

Of this amount, Rs 70 crore was reportedly earmarked as the team’s appearance fee. However, when the plan failed to gain traction, the state government is said to have shifted the sponsorship to Reporter Broadcasting Company Pvt Ltd, the owner of Reporter TV news channel.

In March 2025, HSBC India, which partnered with the Argentina football team to promote the sport in India and Singapore, had also announced that the team would visit India in October 2025. The statement gave more strength to the hopes that Messi will be coming to India in 2025, but the bank is now mum on the issue.

Kerala minister Abdurahiman has also declined to comment on the issue. “The sponsors will respond to the queries,” he told TNIE recently.