The Argentina national football team, including star forward Lionel Messi, will visit India for an international exhibition match in October 2025. While the city that Messi and Argentina will play in later this year remain to be confirmed, this will mark the second time that Messi will be visiting India after the Argentine legend travelled to India in 2011 to play for the national team against Venezuela in a friendly game at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Earlier in the year, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman had revealed that the Kerala Government had an agreement with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) to host two games involving La Albiceleste in Kerala in 2025.
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The latest announcement from HSBC comes on a day when defending champions Argentina secured a spot at the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted next year by USA, Canada and Mexico.
Argentina had secured their spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 even before their 4-1 victory over arch-rivals Brazil in the South American qualifying on Tuesday. This was thanks to Bolivia’s failure to beat Uruguay in a World Cup qualifying game which meant Argentina now have enough cushion in South American qualifying to secure one of the continent’s six direct spots for the 48-team World Cup. Remarkably, Argentina defeated Brazil without even needing Messi on the pitch as Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Giuliano Simeone scored for the world champions on the night.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has opted not to field 37-year-old Messi in several games for the national team. This had led to murmurs about Messi’s ability to play at the World Cup next year. As the Associated Press reported, Messi has an injury to his adductor which is why he was not included in Argentina’s squad for the two latest matches.
Lionel Messi did not play in the Argentina vs Brazil 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match. (Reuters) 
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