
Messi set to visit India after 14 years: Date, venue & other details here
This marks legendary player Messi's return to subcontinent after 14 years.
Notably, in November last year, Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman had announced the news of Argentina visiting the southern state and playing two friendly matches in Kochi.
The visit comes as part of a newly announced partnership between the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and HSBC, covering India and Singapore.
The one-year agreement, signed ahead of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualification final matches, makes HSBC the official banking partner of the Argentina National Team in both countries. As part of the deal, HSBC will hold branding and activation rights while offering its customers exclusive benefits such as match tickets, fan experiences, and meet-and-greet opportunities with Argentine football stars.
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Messi's first visit to India was in September 2011 when the football maestro was here to play a World Cup qualifying round match against Venezuela in Kolkata, which his team won 1-0 at Salt Lake Stadium.
However, the exact date and venue of the legend's arrival this year is yet to be known.
AFA President Claudio Fabian Tapia hailed the partnership as a significant step in the federation’s international expansion. «We are delighted to have HSBC, the unique banking institution of India, as a new partner for the Argentine Football Association in India. A new milestone has been achieved for the international expansion of AFA, opening new opportunities with HSBC both in India and in Singapore,» Tapia said.
Sandeep Batra, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking at HSBC India, highlighted the significance of the collaboration. “HSBC is proud to announce our groundbreaking partnership with the Argentina Football