Kochi: Football fans in India have reason for cheer. Lionel Messi, one of the all time greats in the world of football, will lead a team from Argentina to play an exhibition match in Kerala in October. Messi last visited India in 2011, when Argentina played a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela in Kolkata.
On Wednesday, HSBC India announced that it has become the official partner of the Argentine team and a match will be played in Kerala as part of the collaboration, to promote the sport in India.
“Under this partnership, the Argentina national football team, including legendary player Lionel Messi, will visit India for an international exhibition match in October 2025,” a release from HSBC India said.
“The Argentine Football Association (AFA) and HSBC have today announced the signing of a new one-year partnership for India and Singapore, covering the competitive season in 2025 ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualification final matches,” it added.
Sandeep Batra, head, International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India is quoted as saying: “As we join forces with one of the most revered teams in the world of football, we look forward to creating unforgettable experiences for fans and customers alike, and supporting the Argentine team in their journey towards the World Cup 2026.”
Argentine Football Association president Claudio Fabian Tapia has said: “A new milestone has been achieved for the international expansion of AFA, opening new opportunities with HSBC both in India and in Singapore.
“This agreement looks after our team and we look forward to consolidate our agreement and extend in multiple regions as we progress in 2025 and 2026. We welcome HSBC as the new partner of the Argentina National Team,” he said.
Preparations for the visit seem to have been going on for quite some time. In November 2024, Kerala sports minister V Abdurahiman had said that the Argentine team will play two friendly matches in Kochi.
The announcement came on a day when Argentina qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, after a goalless tie between Uruguay and Bolivia. On Wednesday, Argentina also secured a 4-1 victory against arch rivals Brazil. Messi did not play in this match though.
