Kerala's Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Friday seemed to reassure football fans in the state about the promised visit of Lionel Messi and his World beaters Argentina.

"Messi varum tta," (Messi will come), posted Abdurahiman on Facebook. The minister's post featured a caricature of Messi with the words 'King Leo coming' written across.

Since early 2024, the sports minister has made several statements, sometimes contradictory, about the possibility of hosting the iconic footballer and his World Cup-winning side for a pair of friendly matches.

Kerala Sports Minister V Adburahiman (third from right) poses with officials of Argentinian Football Association officials and others during a meeting in Spain in September, 2024. Photo: Facebook/vabdurahman
Kerala Sports Minister V Adburahiman (third from right) poses with Argentinian Football Association officials and others during a meeting in Spain in September, 2024. Photo: Facebook/vabdurahman

Interestingly, the minister's graphic post had a credit note, which read, 'Thanks to .... Reporter Tv Broadcasting Co.' Within an hour of the public announcement, Anto Augustine, Managing Director of Reporter Broadcasting Company, the firm entrusted with reaching an agreement with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), put out a post that seemed to complicate the matter.

"Evide kalikkum...." (where will they play) was the comment with which Augustine shared the minister's post. Two weeks ago, Augustine addressed the media to explain his stance in the recurring Messi saga.

One of the issues raised by Augustine in his presser was the lack of clarity over a venue to host Messi. "We have two stadiums, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, and whichever the government says meets AFA's requirements, we are ready to proceed," Augustine said back then.

Between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, only the latter is football-specific as the ground in the capital has been developed to host cricket matches, with hardened wickets taking up the centre of the ground.

As for Kochi, which is home to the Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters, FIFA raised safety concerns when India hosted the Under-17 World Cup in 2017. The state government has yet to clarify which venue can be used if and when Messi and Argentina visit.

Meanwhile, the minister's announcement has come two weeks before the byelection in the Nilambur Assembly Constituency, in Malappuram district, home to the most ardent football fans in the state. The minister was unavailable for a comment on the details of the Messi visit. 

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