India had to let go of a golden opportunity to witness the magnificence of Lionel Messi and Argentina, the reigning world champions.
The chance to bask in the glory of Messi’s genius, to witness the mesmerizing skills of Argentina’s football maestros, was within our grasp. However, the oppurtunity was torn apart by the weighty burden of cost.
Imagine the sheer thrill of witnessing Messi, the living legend, gracing our soil, adorning our stadiums with his sublime artistry. The anticipation, the excitement that would have filled the air, transcending boundaries and unifying hearts. It was a chance to experience history in the making as our national team donned in their Blues playing against the Albicleste.
India had to decline the opportunity to host Lionel Messi’s Argentina for a friendly match due to the exorbitant expenses involved. Shaji Prabhakaran, the Secretary General of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), explained, ‘The Argentina FA reached out to us for a friendly, but it was just not possible to arrange such a huge sum.’ The economic situation in Indian football and the substantial appearance fee commanded by Argentina posed limitations on organizing the match.
Discussions between the AIFF and the Argentina Football Association (AFA) are still ongoing, as both parties are interested in establishing a partnership. Prabhakaran expressed the AIFF’s desire to collaborate with the AFA, stating, ‘We are interested in having some sort of partnership with the Argentina FA. There is a lot of interest from Argentina too, even from their clubs.’ This potential partnership could open doors for future collaborations and exchanges between the two football associations’. he concluded.
Argentina has previously played in India, with their notable victory against Venezuela in 2011 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The match drew an impressive crowd of 85,000 enthusiastic spectators who wholeheartedly supported the Argentine team. This time around, India would have had the opportunity to witness Messi and Argentina as world champions for the first time. However, due to the financial constraints, the match could not materialize.
Despite the setback, the AIFF and the AFA continue to engage in discussions, aiming to explore possibilities for future collaborations. The hope remains that a partnership between the two associations can be established, facilitating mutual growth and development in football.