Lionel Messi to visit India as Argentina set for international match in this city

Lionel Messi will come to Kerala next year, where he will play an international match. Messi last came to India in 2011, when Argentina and Venezuela played an international friendly match at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.

FIFA World Cup winner Argentina and its star player Lionel Messi will come to India after a 14-year gap. Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said on Wednesday that Messi-led Argentina football team will visit the state next year to play an international match. Abdurahiman said, "The match will be organised by the Kerala government." Messi last came to India in 2011, when Argentina and Venezuela played an international friendly match at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.

The match played between Argentina and Venezuela on September 2, 2011, was won by Messi's team 1-0. Nicolas Otamendi scored the decisive goal on Messi's assist. At that time, Messi had praised his India tour and said that it had left a deep impression on his heart.

Many football legends have visited India

Besides Messi, football legends like David Beckham, Pele, Diego Maradona, Oliver Kahn, Zinedine Zidane, and Emilio Martinez have also visited India. Martinez is currently the goalkeeper of the Argentina team, and if the team comes with full capacity, Martinez will visit India again.