Football

Kerala is set to witness a historic sporting event as the Argentina football team, led by legendary player Lionel Messi, will visit the state for an international match in 2025. The announcement was made by Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.The match will be conducted under the complete supervision of the State government, with financial assistance provided by the merchants of Kerala. The Minister expressed confidence in the state's ability to host the prestigious occasion.The Argentina football team is one of the most successful in the world, having won the FIFA World Cup twice and the Copa América 15 times. Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has been instrumental in the team's success.The match is expected to attract a large number of football enthusiasts from across the country and beyond. It will provide a unique opportunity for Kerala to showcase its sporting infrastructure and hospitality.The State government is making elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. The match will be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi, which has a capacity of over 60,000 spectators.The visit of the Argentina football team is a testament to Kerala's growing stature as a sporting destination. The state has hosted several major sporting events in recent years, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.The match is also expected to have a positive impact on the state's tourism industry. It will attract a large number of visitors, who will have the opportunity to experience Kerala's rich culture and natural beauty.

Lionel Messi returned to the Argentina national team with a bang, scoring a hat-trick and providing two assists in a 6-0 home win over Bolivia in a South American World Cup qualifying match on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.The superstar, who missed the two rounds of the competition in October due to a right ankle injury, played from start to finish on Tuesday in front of raucous fans at the Monumental de Nuñez Stadium, who chanted his name after he opened the scoring in the 19th minute.Messi's first goal came after a mistake by a Bolivian defender, who missed a pass and allowed the 37-year-old Messi to run freely and finish unchallenged in front of goalkeeper Billy Viscarra.The result kept the World Cup champions as leaders of the round-robin competition with 22 points after 10 matches, three points clear of second-place Colombia, who earlier beat Chile 4-0. Uruguay is in third position with 16 points after a goalless draw with Ecuador.Messi's second goal came in the 42nd minute, assisted by Lautaro Martínez. He then provided a decisive pass once again in added time on a goal by Julián Álvarez.Argentina appeared to slow its pace after the break, but scored again with Thiago Almada in the 69th minute. The striker scored from close range after a low cross by Nahuel Molina.Messi's show had two great finishing touches from the edge of the box, the first in the 84th and the second in the 86th minute."We enjoyed this, we are happy to be here playing in Argentina," said Messi, who once again refused to say whether he will play in the next World Cup in 2026. "This could be one of the last (matches in front of the Argentinian crowd)."Bolivia, which is seeking to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 30 years, remains in contention with 12 points.Chile's loss to Colombia has placed the job of coach Ricardo Gareca at risk. Davinson Sánchez, Luis Díaz, Jhon Durán, and Luis Sinistierra scored the goals for Colombia. Chile is in last place in the qualifying group with only five points.Paraguay beat Venezuela 2-1 and moved into a qualifying position in the standings. Jon Aramburo opened the scoring for the visitors in the 25th minute, but striker Antonio Sarabia came from the bench to win it for the hosts with goals in the 59th and 74th minutes.Two more rounds of South American World Cup qualifying will be played in November.

Major League Soccer (MLS) has shattered its previous attendance record, with over 11 million fans flocking to games this season. This milestone surpasses the 10.9 million fans who attended games in 2024, marking a significant achievement for the league.MLS has averaged an impressive 23,240 fans per game, breaking the 11 million-fan barrier for the first time. The league attributes this surge in attendance to the arrival of international stars like Lionel Messi, whose presence has prompted teams to move fixtures to larger stadiums."The arrival of international stars and the work from clubs to create more unique fan-friendly ticket packages and game day experiences are among the key drivers of the continued surge of record-breaking attendance across MLS," the league stated.This record-breaking tally comes with the regular season still ongoing. Sixteen more matches remain before the season concludes on October 19. The attendance numbers mark the third consecutive year that MLS has drawn more than 10 million fans.MLS Commissioner Don Garber expressed his delight at the league's success, stating, "This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our clubs, players, and fans. We are committed to continuing to grow the game of soccer in North America and providing our fans with an unforgettable experience."The league's expansion into new markets and the addition of new teams have also contributed to the increased attendance. MLS currently has 29 teams across the United States and Canada, with plans to expand to 30 teams in the near future.

Lionel Messi's brace propelled Inter Miami to a thrilling 3-2 victory over the reigning MLS champions, the Columbus Crew, securing the Supporters' Shield for the best regular season record.Messi, who had been relatively quiet in the first half, came alive in the 45th minute. A long ball into the box found its way to the Argentine maestro, who chested it down and benefited from a fortunate bounce off Crew defender Malte Amundsen before poking the ball home.Just minutes later, Messi doubled Inter's lead with a stunning free-kick. Taking advantage of a poorly organized wall, he curled a laser-precision shot into the corner, leaving Columbus goalkeeper Patrick Schulte rooted to the spot.However, Columbus refused to go down without a fight. Just 20 seconds into the second half, Diego Rossi pulled a goal back with a clever curling shot from inside the box.Straight from the restart, Miami gifted Columbus a third goal. Schulte rushed off his line but collided with defender Rudy Camacho, dropping the ball to Luis Suarez, who headed into the unguarded net.The Crew continued to battle and reduced the deficit to 3-2 through a Cucho Hernandez penalty after Noah Allen handled the ball in the box.But Miami's momentum was short-lived as Camacho was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on Federico Redondo.With seven minutes remaining, Columbus had a golden opportunity to equalize and deny Miami their celebration when a penalty was awarded for handball against Ian Fray after a VAR review. However, Hernandez's penalty was weak, and Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender made a diving save to preserve the victory.The MLS Cup playoffs will determine the ultimate champion, and a potential rematch between Eastern Conference rivals Inter Miami and the Columbus Crew could be on the cards.

Lionel Messi's equalizer rescued a point for Inter Miami in a 1-1 draw against Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer on Saturday. Despite the setback, Miami remain atop the Eastern Conference and the Supporters Shield standings.Charlotte took the lead through Brandt Bronico's deflected shot in the 57th minute. Miami responded with urgency, and Messi equalized in the 67th minute with a left-footed drive into the bottom corner.Miami thought they had won a penalty in the 77th minute, but VAR overturned the decision. In stoppage time, Luis Suarez missed a golden opportunity to secure the win.Miami coach Gerardo Martino expressed frustration with the draw but acknowledged the team's progress. "We were a team that habitually lost for years, and now, we are a team that habitually wins," he said.Elsewhere, the Seattle Sounders, Houston Dynamo, New York Red Bulls, New York City, LAFC, and Orlando City all clinched playoff berths.In the 'Hudson River derby,' New York City thrashed the New York Red Bulls 5-1, with Alonso Martinez scoring twice. Orlando City defeated FC Dallas 3-1, while LAFC secured their playoff spot with a 2-1 win at FC Cincinnati.

Inter Miami's pursuit of Major League Soccer's single-season points record hit a roadblock on Saturday as New York City FC snatched a dramatic 1-1 draw in the dying moments of injury time.Despite being assured of a playoff berth, Miami appeared poised to secure their 20th victory of the season when Lionel Messi assisted Ecuadorian international Leonardo Campana's 75th-minute goal at Yankee Stadium. However, with victory seemingly within reach, New York defender James Sands rose above the Miami defense to meet a Santiago Rodriguez corner in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time, sending a thunderous header past goalkeeper Drake Callender.The result dents Miami's hopes of surpassing New England's all-time single-season points tally of 73 set in 2021. The draw leaves Miami with 64 points from 30 games, meaning Gerardo Martino's team must earn nine points from their remaining 12 matches to equal the Revolution's record or 10 points to break it.Despite the late equalizer, Miami could have few complaints after New York deservedly earned a point from the early fixture. The hosts squandered several chances to take the lead, with Messi narrowly missing with a free-kick in the fourth minute and Rodriguez's free-kick rattling off the post in the 11th minute.Keaton Parks missed a golden opportunity to put New York ahead in the 47th minute, firing wide with the goal at his mercy. Miami capitalized on New York's profligacy 15 minutes from time when Messi found Jordi Alba in space, who squared the ball for Campana to tap in from close range.That goal seemed to have sealed the victory, but New York's late pressure paid off when Rodriguez's pinpoint corner allowed Sands to head home the equalizer.

Lionel Messi made a triumphant return to Inter Miami on Saturday night, leading the team to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union with two goals and an assist. The Argentine superstar, who had been sidelined since June due to national team commitments and an ankle injury, showed no signs of rust or lingering effects from the injury.Messi's first goal came in the 26th minute, leveling the score at 1-1 after Philadelphia had taken an early lead. He received a short pass near the large area, outmaneuvered Union defender Kai Wagner into the box, and converted a shot that landed inside the left post. Four minutes later, Messi received a crossing pass inside the box and beat Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick with a 15-yard shot.Luis Suárez also had a strong performance, assisting on Messi's first goal and clinching Miami's win with a strike on Messi's assist during second half stoppage time. It was Suárez's 17th goal of the season.Despite Messi's absence, Miami went 8-2 and clinched an MLS playoff spot. With the victory, Miami (19-4-5) took the lead in the Supporters Shield table with 62 points."It's nice to see that his injury has healed and that he's as effective as he was before," said Inter Miami midfielder Julian Gressel.Messi's return has boosted Inter Miami's hopes of making a deep playoff run. The team has been in impressive form this season, with Messi's contributions adding another dimension to their attack.

Colombia exacted revenge for their Copa America final defeat by edging out Argentina 2-1 in a thrilling South American qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. The victory propelled Colombia to second place in the standings, just two points behind leaders Argentina.Colombia's triumph was orchestrated by captain James Rodriguez, who coolly converted a 60th-minute penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after Nicolas Otamendi's reckless challenge on Daniel Munoz. Rodriguez's goal proved decisive, as Argentina's penalty specialist Emiliano Martinez was unable to stop it.The match began brightly for Colombia, who took the lead in the 25th minute through Yerson Mosquera's header. However, Argentina responded swiftly after the break, with Nicolas Gonzalez equalizing in the 48th minute.Despite the setback, Colombia remained resolute and regained the lead through Rodriguez's penalty. The victory was a sweet moment for Colombia, who had been defeated by Argentina in the Copa America final just two months prior.Meanwhile, Brazil's qualifying campaign hit a snag as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Paraguay in Asuncion. Diego Gomez's long-range strike in the 20th minute proved to be the difference, leaving Brazil in fifth place in the standings.Elsewhere, Chile's hopes of qualifying took a further blow as they lost 2-1 at home to Bolivia. Carmelo Algaranaz and Miguel Terceros scored for Bolivia, while Chile's only goal came from Alexis Sanchez. The defeat leaves Chile languishing in ninth place, with their chances of reaching the World Cup dwindling.In other matches, Ecuador boosted their qualification hopes with a 1-0 win over Peru in Quito, while Uruguay and Venezuela played out a goalless draw.

Lionel Messi to Miss Argentina's World Cup Qualifiers Due to InjuryArgentina's hopes of securing a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup have been dealt a blow with the news that star forward Lionel Messi will miss the team's next two qualifying matches due to injury.Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 28-man squad on Monday for the matches against Chile on September 5 and Colombia five days later. Messi, who is still recovering from a right ankle injury, was not included in the squad.The 36-year-old Messi has been a key figure for Argentina in recent years, leading the team to victory in the 2021 Copa America. His absence from the squad will be a significant loss for Scaloni's side.In addition to Messi, Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team after winning the Copa America, is also not on the list.Despite the absence of Messi and Di María, Argentina remains the favorite to qualify for the World Cup. The team currently leads South American qualifying with 15 points after six matches.Argentina Squad:Goalkeepers: Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atalanta), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Valentín Barco (Brighton)Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Guido Rodríguez (West Ham), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Ezequiel Fernández (Al Qadisiya), Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Nico González (Fiorentina)Forwards: Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Matías Soulé (Roma), Giuliano Simeone, Julián Álvarez both (Atletico Madrid), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) and Valentín Castellanos (Lazio)