Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman has accused Lionel Messi’s Argentina of “cheating” the state after allegedly failing to honour a commitment to play a football match despite receiving payment.
Speaking to a local TV channel on Thursday, Abdurahiman said the state government had gone to great lengths to bring the world champions to Kerala, calling it a project driven as much by ambition as by emotion.
“I really wanted the Argentina team and Lionel Messi to come to Kerala and play a match here. We held several discussions for that. It was not easy to find sponsors to arrange the Rs 250 crore required to bring an international team of that stature,” he said.
The minister, however, alleged that despite the financial arrangements being put in place, the team did not follow through on its commitment.
“But after receiving the money, the Argentine team cheated us. We did not expect such a betrayal from them. Not coming after promising to do so,” he added.
Abdurahiman further claimed that Kerala was not an isolated case, suggesting a pattern in Argentina’s recent international engagements.
“When we enquired, we found that they had done this to five other countries as well. They took money but never went there to play. It is 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 in what was initially seen as a marquee opportunity for Kerala to host one of world football’s biggest teams. Back in November last year, the minister had publicly announced that Argentina, led by Messi, would travel to the state in March 2026 for an exhibition match, a development that had generated significant excitement among fans.
That plan, however, appears to have collapsed entirely.
The idea of bringing Argentina to Kerala had been in the works for some time. The state government had earlier held exploratory talks with the Argentine Football Association as well as FIFA to host a high-profile friendly in 2025. Those discussions were part of a broader push to position Kerala as a viable destination for international football events.
Despite initial optimism, those negotiations did not materialise into a confirmed fixture, and the more recent attempt to bring the team in 2026 has now ended in controversy.
LIONEL MESSI’S GOAT TOUR
The statements from the minister also brings back memories of Lionel Messi’s much-hyped “GOAT Tour” of India, which failed to meet expectations and drew sharp criticism, particularly in Kolkata.
The exhibition tour, marketed around Messi’s global appeal, was expected to be a landmark moment for Indian football fans. However, issues around organisation, fan access, and overall execution led to widespread disappointment. Many supporters in Kolkata, a city with a deep-rooted football culture, expressed frustration over the lack of meaningful engagement and the underwhelming nature of the event.
For several fans, what was billed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness one of the game’s greatest players turned into a poorly managed spectacle. The backlash was amplified on social media, with questions raised over the intent and structure of such tours.
Against that backdrop, the latest allegations from Kerala only add to concerns around Argentina’s overseas commitments, especially in regions where fan expectations run high and logistical execution plays a crucial role.
ARGENTINA DISAPPOINTED FOOTBALL FANS
Abdurahiman admitted that the episode has left him personally disappointed, particularly given the expectations it had created among football fans in the state.
“It has disappointed football lovers in Kerala. I don’t know to whom I will express my disappointment,” he said.
Kerala has long been regarded as 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 moment for the state’s sporting ambitions.
Instead, it has turned into a dispute that could potentially head towards legal action, with the state now considering its options after what it believes was a breach of trust.
– Ends
