Forget Messi, there’s the memory of Maradona’s date with Kerala to remember

He would have turned 65 today. Some part of the Spanish-speaking world would have hosted a wild birthday party. At least for a few hours, he would have topped the social media trending charts, perhaps overtaking the other Argentine, Lionel Messi.

It wouldn't have mattered, though, because Diego Maradona is no more, and it's been five years since he died.

But while the day is still young, let us reminisce about good old Diego and his famous Kerala visit in October 2012.

The memory of Maradona's public appearance from a podium of the Municipal Stadium in Kannur holds significance in the backdrop of a Messi visit that has fallen through.

Maradona reached Kerala to promote a jewellery brand, but he ended up promoting the beautiful game, like he had done throughout his eventful life.

It was October 24, a week before his 52nd birthday. Maradona obliged to cake-cutting, kicked a few footballs into the crowd, juggled one with Kerala's living great I M Vijayan, danced with a popular emcee, sang something in Spanish and waved and blew kisses like a boy to the love of his life. Then he took off in a helicopter.

That was Kerala's date with the divine, short and memorable, lasting less than a quarter of a football match.

Kerala had hoped for a similar rendezvous with Messi, the legitimate heir to Maradona's genius. The proposed Messi visit, along with his World Cup-winning Argentine football team, carried the promise of a longer date, of an open-bus parade, a fan interaction, and a whole game of football at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium at Kaloor in Kochi.

That date has been cancelled, and while Kerala hopes Messi still might visit next year, or whenever, there is the memory of Maradona to return to.