Did Kerala Govt Spend ₹13 Lakh To Bring Messi?
It has emerged that the state government reportedly spent ₹13 lakh to invite Lionel Messi, only for the Argentine icon to ultimately skip a Kerala visit.
According to a Times of India report, Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman travelled to Spain in September 2024 to extend the invitation to Messi and the Argentina national team. The trip was funded by public money, contradicting the minister’s earlier claim that “not a single rupee” from state coffers would be spent.
The minister wasn’t alone on the journey; he was accompanied by the Sports Department Secretary and the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs.
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At the time, Abdurahiman had hinted at a possible Messi appearance in Kerala in October or November 2025, riding on the state’s massive Argentina fanbase. But earlier this month, he confirmed that the visit was off, citing “travel difficulties” for the World Cup winners.
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As Indian football fans eagerly awaited and even made plans to watch Lionel Messi in action during Argentina’s proposed visit to Kerala, the disappointing update arrived on Monday, V. Abdurahiman confirming that Messi and the Argentina national team will not be coming to the state this year.
Political observers note the timing of the announcement, with local body elections in December 2025 and the Kerala Assembly polls in April–May 2026. The push to bring Messi may have been seen as a crowd-pleasing move in a football-mad state.
While Messi is still scheduled to visit India in December 2025, it will be through different organisers — covering Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi — not Kerala.
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The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), however, claims it hasn’t yet received any official communication about Messi’s proposed appearance at Eden Gardens.
In Mumbai, if he comes, the Inter Miami superstar is expected to take part in a celebrity cricket match alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.
