Football enthusiasts in Kerala will have to remain patient as their dream of watching Lionel Messi and the World Cup champion Argentina team perform on local turf has been postponed indefinitely. Despite persistent efforts by Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman and his team, involving multiple discussions with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) after meetings in Spain last year, the plan has now collapsed.

Argentina’s 2026 itinerary excludes India, with scheduled matches set in China, Qatar, and several African nations.

Messi’s last appearance in India was in 2011, during an international friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. Kerala football fans, especially from the districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode, had traveled in large numbers to witness the game. These regions have long been ardent supporters of the Argentine team, and their enthusiasm surged further after Messi led Argentina to victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Abdurahiman, who hails from Malappuram, had led a delegation to Spain and declared that the eagerly awaited event would happen in the last quarter of 2026. Unfortunately, both the minister’s and the Kerala government’s aspirations have been dashed, leaving local football lovers disappointed.

Adding to the complexity, Kerala is gearing up for state assembly elections scheduled in April or May 2026, coinciding with the FIFA World Cup year.

For now, Kerala’s Messi moment remains a distant dream.