From Kerala to Kolkata: Indian Fans Spend Big and Travel Far for Messi's Argentina Farewell

Lionel Messi's final appearance in an Argentina shirt drew devotion from halfway around the world, with supporters across India going to extraordinary lengths to witness the end of an era. The friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium on Tuesday marked the captain's last outing for the national team, closing a chapter that began 21 years ago and stirring powerful emotions among followers in South Asia, roughly 15,000 kilometres from the Argentine capital.

Among those making the pilgrimage was Yadil Iqbal, a social media creator from Kodungallur in the southern state of Kerala. His journey required some 40 hours of travel and thousands of dollars in spending, undertaken without a match ticket in hand. Iqbal, who documents his life for 1.7 million Instagram followers, boarded his flights carrying an Argentina jersey and a wristwatch he hoped to present to Messi, trusting that the trip would work out despite the significant risk.

His confidence, he explained, stemmed from a belief that fate had already rewarded him once. Iqbal told Al Jazeera that he had prayed for Messi to win the World Cup, and that the wish came true four years ago at Qatar 2022, when Argentina claimed the title. Having witnessed that triumph, he said, no subsequent obstacle felt insurmountable, which is why the uncertainty over his ticket never caused him serious worry.

That conviction proved justified. Within hours of landing in Argentina, Iqbal secured a ticket on the resale market, paying about $1,000 — roughly three times the original face value. For a fan who named his young son "Lian Messil," a playful nod to Lionel Messi, the expense was a minor consideration set against the chance to see his idol's farewell in person.

Iqbal's devotion is visible far beyond his travel itinerary. Near his home stands a mural measuring 32 feet high and 20 feet wide, depicting Messi's major career trophies. He had it built after Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, though Messi only became aware of it in June of this year, when Iqbal posted a birthday tribute. Using Spanish learned through Google Translate, Iqbal recorded a video message, and Messi responded in the comments, thanking him by name — an exchange Iqbal describes as the best day of his life.

Such intensity is not unusual in Kerala or in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, where affection for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner runs deep. During World Cup tournaments, neighbourhoods in Kerala are known to turn into seas of sky blue and white, with Argentina flags flown from homes and some houses painted in the colours of the Albiceleste. To these supporters, Messi — born in Rosario and Argentina's most-capped player — is treated as one of their own.

In Mumbai, the emotional weight of the occasion hit just as hard. Sagar Shinde, a creative producer and sports content creator who grew up watching Messi, said the thought of seeing the player wear Argentina's shirt for the last time moved him to tears. He admitted that football will remain part of his life, but noted that the man who first made him fall in love with the game will no longer be on the pitch for the team he supports.

Shinde's commitment is permanently inscribed on his body. A tattoo on his forearm records the date Messi lifted the World Cup in Qatar, the moment that finally allowed him to step out from the shadow of the late Diego Maradona. Shinde recalled challenging a friend that they would get matching tattoos if Messi won the trophy, and then holding him to the promise once it happened, framing the victory as an answered prayer.

His football fandom, like that of many Indian supporters, began with a single figure. Shinde started following La Liga side Barcelona and the Argentina national team solely because of Messi, and he now co-founded FCB Mumbai, a fan club that organises screenings of both teams' matches. That role places him at the centre of a community that has built its calendar around fixtures played thousands of miles away.

Following South American football from South Asia requires real sacrifice. Live matches often mean staying awake well past midnight or rising before dawn, given the eight-and-a-half-hour time difference. Yet that gap proved no obstacle for Messi and Argentina supporters, with hundreds gathering in Mumbai and elsewhere for a 4:30am kickoff screening of Wednesday's match.

Shinde attributed the devotion to the player's rare qualities, describing Messi as unique and arguing that anyone who watches football must admire his elegance, dribbling and overall mastery of the game. That assessment echoes the sentiment of a fanbase spread across continents, one that has tied its routines, friendships and even family milestones to the career of a forward now playing his club football for Inter Miami.

The farewell friendly against Benin thus resonated far beyond the Monumental Stadium. For Indian fans, the match represented the closing of a 21-year international journey they had followed through time-zone compromises, painted walls, tattoos and, in some cases, 40-hour flights. Their presence in Buenos Aires and at pre-dawn screening events underscores how a footballer from Rosario became woven into the sporting identity of states and cities across India.