Sports
Messi’s Final Match Touches Hearts of Indian Fans
A 40‑hour journey across 15,000 km brought Indian super‑fan Yadil Iqbal to Buenos Aires to watch Lionel Messi’s farewell friendly against Benin. Iqbal, who had packed a blue‑and‑white Argentina jersey and a watch he hoped to gift Messi, had no ticket when he left his hometown of Kodungallur in Kerala. After a long trip with multiple stops, he secured a last‑minute resale ticket for $1,000, about three times the original price. He shared the experience with his 1.7 million Instagram followers. Iqbal, who named his son “Lian Messil,” has also built a 32‑by‑20‑foot mural of Messi’s trophies near his home, a project that earned a thank‑you comment from Messi himself.
In Mumbai, Sagar Shinde, a creative producer and sports content creator, said he cried at the thought of Messi’s last appearance in the Argentina jersey. Shinde has a tattoo of the 2022 World Cup trophy date and is a co‑founder of the fan club FCB Mumbai, which hosts screenings of Barcelona and Argentina matches. He noted that the 8½‑hour time difference was not a barrier, with hundreds attending a 4:30 a.m. kickoff screening.
South American football expert Martin Mazur, based in Buenos Aires, described Messi as a cultural icon who has united younger and older generations in Argentina. Argentine journalist Marcela Mora y Araujo, a Times of India columnist, said Messi’s unique qualities have marked an era in football, both at club and national levels. She also highlighted the pride Argentine fans feel from the support of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi fans.
Messi’s swansong drew about 85,000 fans in Buenos Aires, more than the 70,000 who attended the 2026 NFL Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California.