The great Lionel Messi and the rest of the Argentina football team will come to the state for an international game next year, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced that the Argentina football team, which includes the great Lionel Messi, will play an international match in the state the next year. The minister told reporters during a press briefing that the state government will be fully monitoring the match. “The state’s merchants will provide all the financial assistance for organizing this high-profile football event,” the minister stated, demonstrating confidence in Kerala’s capacity to organize the momentous event.
In Tuesday’s South American World Cup qualifying match, world champions Argentina defeated Peru 1-0 thanks to a spectacular goal from Lautaro Martinez, while Brazil was held to a 1-1 draw at home against Uruguay.
With their qualifying for the 2026 championship undoubtedly only a matter of time, Argentina continues to lead the CONMEBOL rankings.
Although Lionel Scaloni’s team didn’t have a particularly memorable performance, a magical moment from Martinez of Inter Milan proved to be the difference at the ‘Bombonera’ stadium in Buenos Aires.
Lionel Messi floated in a cross from the left and Martinez leaped into the air, bending back as he smashed a powerful left-footed volley past Pedro Gallese.
With their eighth victory in 12 games, Argentina leads the table with 25 points, five points ahead of Uruguay, who gained a crucial point in Brazil.
World Cup winners five times Uruguay’s Federico Valverde, a midfielder for Real Madrid, scored a beautiful goal in the 55th minute to put Brazil down after they struggled for extended periods of the match in Salvador.
However, Brazil equalized seven minutes later when Gerson scored a perfectly-struck volley after a headed clearing landed pleasantly to him.
With a superb foot-switch before a volley that resulted in a fine stop from Sergio Rochet, Gabriel Martinelli came very close to winning.
Brazil is now in fifth place with 18 points after the draw, one point behind Colombia in fourth place, who lost to Ecuador 1-0 at home in Barranquilla.
