It was an unexpected early Onam gift for football fans in Kerala after it was confirmed on Saturday by Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman that Argentine football legend Lionel Messi will indeed come to the State with his World Cup-winning team in November.

That the announcement came just weeks after Mr. Abdurahiman said that the Argentine team was unlikely to tour Kerala made it doubly sweet.

Ahammed Salih of the Malappuram Argentina WhatsApp Koottayma was ecstatic following the announcement, though a hint of doubt lingered due to the previous uncertainty. “We are planning a friendly match to mark Messi’s arrival, and a procession will be organised if permission is granted. It goes without saying that all of Malappuram will be adorned with Messi flex boards. We’ll try to watch the game live, and if that’s not possible, we’ll turn it into a grand festival here by organising a fans’ fest with a big screen,” he said.

Clarity after confusion

Initially, fans were disappointed when the itinerary released by the Argentina Football Federation (AFA) in May did not include a stopover in Kerala, contrary to Mr. Abdurahiman’s announcement in November last year that the Argentina national team featuring Messi would play two exhibition matches against Japan and Qatar in Kerala in 2025.

The blame was then placed on a Kochi-based company, which Mr. Abdurahiman said had an agreement with AFA and was responsible for the arrangements.

However, in June, Mr. Abdurahiman reignited hopes with a Facebook post “Messi is coming,” which he again retracted in August, blaming the AFA for allegedly backing out of the promise to visit Kerala in October after accepting payment.

R. Yedhukrishnan, executive committee member of Penya del Barça, the official supporters’ club of Spanish football giant FC Barcelona, had long felt that Messi’s visit to Kerala was unrealistic. “It’s a dream for millions, for whom Messi is like a god, and the event is going to attract unprecedented public participation. Our supporters’ club will definitely plan something to mark the occasion,” he said.

Former India international and football legend I.M. Vijayan described Messi’s impending arrival as the biggest event that will inspire thousands of children to take up the sport, and a dream come true for millions of fans in Kerala.

He recalled an event in Delhi, which he attended shortly after Argentina’s World Cup victory, where the Chief Minister was presented with an Argentine jersey by representatives of Argentine football in recognition of Kerala’s passionate support for the team.