Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has accused Lionel Messi’s Argentina of “cheating” the state after it allegedly reneged on a commitment to play a football match despite receiving payment.
Speaking to a local TV channel on Thursday, Abdurahiman said that the state government had gone to great lengths to bring the world champions to Kerala, calling it a project driven by both ambition and emotion.
Read the full article
“I really wanted the Argentine team and Lionel Messi to come to Kerala and play a match here. We had several discussions about it. It was not easy to find sponsors to arrange the Rs 250 crore needed to bring an international team of this size,” he said.
However, the minister claimed that despite the financial arrangements in place, the team failed to honor its commitment.
“But after receiving the money, the Argentine team cheated us. We did not expect such a betrayal from them. It will not come after they promised us,” he added. Lionel Messi in tears in his last game in Argentina. (Photo by Reuters)
Abdurahiman further argued that Kerala was not an isolated case, suggesting a pattern in Argentina’s recent international encounters.
“When we asked, we found out that they did this in five other countries as well. They took the money but never went there to play. It’s a situation where a case will have to be filed and they will have to pay compensation,” he said.
The remarks mark a sharp escalation of what was initially seen as an opportunity for Kerala to host one of the world’s biggest football teams. In November last year, the minister publicly announced that Argentina, led by Messi, would travel to the state in March 2026 for an exhibition match, causing considerable excitement among fans.
However, this plan seems to have completely collapsed.
The idea of bringing Argentina to Kerala has been in the works for quite some time. The state government had previously held exploratory talks with the Argentine Football Association and FIFA to host a high-level friendly in 2025. These discussions were part of a wider effort to position Kerala as a viable destination for international football events.
Despite initial optimism, these negotiations did not materialize into a confirmed match, and a more recent attempt to bring the team to 2026 has now ended in controversy.
LIONEL MESSI’S GOAT TOUR
The minister’s remarks also bring back memories of Lionel Messi’s much-hyped ‘GOAT Tour’ of India, which fell short of expectations and drew sharp criticism, especially in Kolkata.
The exhibition tour, promoted around Messi’s global appeal, was expected to be a landmark for Indian football fans. However, issues around organisation, fan attitude and overall execution led to widespread disappointment. Many supporters in Kolkata, a city with a deep-rooted football culture, expressed frustration at the lack of meaningful engagement and the underwhelming nature of the event.
For several fans, what was supposed to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness one of the game’s greatest players turned into a poorly managed spectacle. Backlash has intensified on social media, with questions about the intent and structure of such tours.
In this context, the latest allegations from Kerala only heighten concerns about Argentina’s overseas commitments, especially in regions where fan expectations are high and logistical execution plays a key role.
ARGENTINA DISAPPOINTED FOOTBALL FANS
Abdurahiman admitted that he was personally disappointed by the episode, especially considering the expectations it raised among football fans in the state.
“It has disappointed football lovers in Kerala. I don’t know who to express my disappointment to,” he said.
Kerala has long been considered one of India’s football strongholds with a passionate fan base that closely follows global teams and players, including Messi. The prospect of hosting the reigning world champions was seen as a landmark for the state’s sporting ambitions.
Instead, it has turned into a dispute that could potentially lead to legal action, with the state now considering its options after what it says has been a breach of trust.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
02 Apr 2026 12:07 IST
