Messi’s reported farewell draws Indian supporters to Buenos Aires and Mumbai
Fans travelled from Kerala to Argentina and gathered before dawn in Mumbai for a friendly framed as Lionel Messi’s final appearance for the national team.
Indian supporters followed Argentina’s friendly against Benin from Buenos Aires and Mumbai, as Al Jazeera reported the match as Lionel Messi’s farewell appearance for his country. The framing has not confirmed Messi’s future plans for the national team.
Yadil Iqbal travelled about 15,000 kilometres from Kerala to Buenos Aires without a ticket. He told Al Jazeera he bought one on the resale market after arriving, paying $1,000, which he said was three times its original price.
In Mumbai, hundreds reportedly attended a 4:30am screening. Sagar Shinde, co-founder of the FCB Mumbai fan club, said the prospect of Messi wearing Argentina’s shirt for the last time had left him emotional. He said Messi had inspired him to follow football, Barcelona and Argentina.
The match drew an estimated 85,000 people in Buenos Aires, according to the report. For supporters in India, the long journey and early start reflected a connection built through years of following Messi’s career.
South American football expert Martin Mazur told Al Jazeera that Messi had become a cultural icon, comparing his standing among younger generations with Diego Maradona’s for older fans. The account of the match as a swansong remains a report of the occasion, rather than confirmation of Messi’s plans.
