Lionel Messi’s India journey reportedly cancelled as organisers fail to lift Rs 100 crore

Lionel Messi and the Argentina soccer group’s supposed go to to Kerala, India, is unsure now because the organisers have reportedly failed to lift the required cash for internet hosting the 2022 World Cup champions. Final November, Kerala state Minister for Sports activities V Abdurahiman had introduced that Argentina and
Messi can be taking part in two worldwide friendlies within the state in 2025. Not less than one of many matches was to be scheduled in Kochi.

However now it has come out that the organisers have failed to lift the minimal Rs 100 crore required to rearrange the matches. Rs 70 crore was reportedly wanted simply as the looks charge for the Argentina group.

No Messi in India in 2025

A report within the New Indian Specific says that the deadline to verify the settlement has ended with the oraganisers failing to fulfill the required monetary commitments. Argentina, in the meantime, has began exploring different choices.

As per the report, Argentine sports activities journalist Gastón Edul has mentioned that the La Albiceleste will play two matches in China and one every in Angola and Qatar. Whereas the schedule has not been communicated formally, it seems that Argentina are already booked for October and November FIFA pleasant home windows.

It additional added that the sponsorship was initially granted to a faction of the All Kerala Gold and Silver Retailers Affiliation (AKGSMA), which aimed to lift the required Rs 100 crore by means of gross sales on its ‘Oloppo’ app.

Of this quantity, Rs 70 crore was reportedly earmarked because the group’s look charge. Nonetheless, when the plan failed to realize traction, the state authorities is alleged to have shifted the sponsorship to Reporter Broadcasting Firm Pvt Ltd, the proprietor of Reporter TV information channel.

In March 2025, HSBC India, which partnered with the Argentina soccer group to advertise the game in India and Singapore, had additionally introduced that the
group would go to India in October 2025. The assertion gave extra power to the hopes that Messi will likely be coming to India in 2025, however the financial institution is now mum on the problem.

Kerala minister Abdurahiman has additionally declined to touch upon the problem. “The sponsors will reply to the queries,” he advised TNIE lately.