KOCHI: Football legend Lionel Messi and the World Cup-winning Argentina team cancelled their earlier planned visit to Kerala. The Argentine Football Association made the news official on Saturday.

The Argentine media reported, quoting AFA officials, that Kerala was not anywhere near meeting the standards demanded by the team. The AFA also alleged that the arrangements were not completed on time. The government and the sponsor had earlier promised that the Argentine team, led by Messi, would play in Kochi on November 17.

Meanwhile, a visibly furious sponsor met the press on Saturday and clarified that efforts are on to bring the football ‘messiah’ and his team to Kerala by the next game window, which is assumed to be in March of 2026.

The owners of the Reporter Broadcast Company, the org

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