Buenos Aires: Football superstar Lionel Messi and reigning World Champions Argentina are set to visit India in November 2025, where they will play an international friendly match in Kerala. The opponent for the match has not yet been announced. This will mark Argentina’s first trip to India since 2011, when they played Venezuela in a friendly at Kolkata’s iconic Salt Lake Stadium, winning 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Nicolás Otamendi.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed the news on Friday while releasing the preliminary schedule for this year’s friendlies. The November fixture in Kerala will be part of a three-match series during the FIFA International Window, with the other two games scheduled to take place in Luanda, Angola.
In its statement, the AFA said: “Under coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina will have two FIFA friendly windows in 2025. The first will be held in the United States in October (10–14), and the second from November 10–18, with matches in Angola and India. Venues and opponents will be confirmed later.”
The exact city and stadium in Kerala are yet to be finalized, though Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the state’s largest football ground, is being widely speculated as the likely venue.
Adding to the excitement, Messi is also scheduled to make a personal promotional tour in December 2025, titled “GOAT Tour of India”, which will cover Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
At 38, Messi continues to be a global icon, having guided Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar and two Copa América triumphs, alongside his Olympic gold from Beijing 2008.
