The Argentinian football team, led by the legendary Lionel Messi, will receive a mind-boggling ₹100 crore for playing two exhibition matches later this year in Kerala, India, as claimed by a report. According to the report in Dainik Bhaskar, an entire seven-star hotel will be booked for the visiting team and no outsiders will be allowed.
It was in 2011 that the 37-year-old football star had last visited first India as he played a World Cup qualifying match in Kolkata against Venezuela. The Salt Lake Stadium had witnessed Argentina winning by 1-0 by beating Venezuela. Messi, who has won the ballon d'or a record eight times, is also a World Cup-winning captain when he led Argentina to the crown in 2022 with a hard-fought victory over France.
Meanwhile, Argentina's opponents yet to be decided, will reportedly receive ₹50 crore.
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman had made the big announcement a few days ago. Messi, who has won the ballon d'or a record eight times, is also a World Cup-winning captain when he led Argentina to the crown in 2022 with a hard-fought victory over France.
"A new milestone has been achieved for the international expansion of AFA" - AFA President
Argentine Football Association President Claudio Fabian Tapia addressed the development and said, as quoted by The Deccan Herald:
"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 the 2025 and 2026. We welcome HSBC as the new partner of the Argentina National Team."
