Lionel Messi-led Argentina football team’s Kerala visit gains ground

With a fanbase that stretches back to the Diego Maradona era, Argentina has enjoyed unmatched affection in parts of India. Now, with the team’s growing global footprint and a new regional sponsorship deal in place, the dream of seeing Lionel Messi in action might finally be within reach for Indian fans.

The LuLu Exchange and LuLu Money brands have signed on as AFA’s Regional Fintech Partners in India, the UAE, and eight other countries in Asia and the GCC. The agreement, unveiled in Dubai on Tuesday, runs until mid-2026 and includes merchandise giveaways, digital activations, and the possibility of fan events featuring Argentine players.

Speaking to Gulf News, Adeeb Ahamed, Founder and Managing Director of LuLu Financial Holdings, said that he hoped the collaboration would eventually help bring the Argentine national team to India or the Gulf for a match or training camp. “We serve a huge Indian population, particularly from Kerala, and they have a historic passion for football,” he said. “This partnership brings us one step closer to the communities we serve — and hopefully, one step closer to seeing Argentina play here.”

Leandro Petersen, AFA’s Commercial and Marketing Chief, echoed the sentiment. “We are aware of the incredible love from India, especially Kerala. It’s remarkable how far the country is, yet how close the people feel. We are working at the government level and hope to visit.”

As Argentina round off their World Cup qualifying campaign and begin to focus on defending their crown in 2026, Messi’s presence remains a rallying point — not just for fans back home, but also across the diaspora that follows him from Buenos Aires to Kerala.

From playing on the pitch to analysing it from the press box, Satish has spent over three decades living and breathing sport. A cricketer-turned-journalist, he has covered three Cricket World Cups, the 2025 Champions Trophy, countless IPL seasons, F1 races, horse racing classics, and tennis in Dubai. Cricket is his home ground, but he sees himself as an all-rounder - breaking stories, building pages, going live on podcasts, and interviewing legends across every corner of the sporting world. Satish started on the back pages, and earned his way to the front, now leading the sports team at Gulf News, where he has spent 25 years navigating the fast-evolving game of journalism. Whether it’s a Super-Over thriller or a behind-the-scenes story, he aims to bring insight, energy, and a fan’s heart to every piece. Because like sport, journalism is about showing up, learning every day, and giving it everything.

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