Argentina’s Lionel Messi responds during a qualified football match against Colombia for the FIFA 2026 World Cup at the monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Keraly spent a trip to Spain in September 2024 on a trip to Spain Rs 13 lakh to invite Lionel Messi football legend, which is contrary to earlier claims that no public money will be used. The Minister, accompanied by the Secretary of the Sports Department and the Director of Sport and Youth, said he would not have a “single rupee” to invite Messi.Minister Abdurahiman recently confirmed that the Argentine national team, led by Messi, will not visit Kera. During October, the team quoted travel problems, the only month when the sponsor was willing to host this event.The Minister previously announced that the team is likely to visit in October or November. He said that they would be treated as state guests, while the government covers security, accommodation and logistics.The Argentine National Team has massive support in the districts of Kerala’s Malappuram and Kozhikode. This support intensified after Messi led Argentina to win the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022.Abdurahiman, who comes from Malappuram, was actively working to bring Messi to Kerala.Sources indicate political motivations behind this effort, while local elections from the authorities were scheduled for December and elections to the Assembly for 140 members of the Legislative Assembly in Kerala, which are to be due in April-May next year.The revelation of the expenditure of the Minister of Spain has criticized the opposition parties. Both UDF led by Congress and BJP led by the NDA accused the government of Pinarayi Vijayan for involvement in advertising casckets and misleading public.
