New Delhi, Aug. 24 -- 'Bring Messi across the Arabian Sea' has been a project that has not lost fervour one bit in football-mad Kerala since the Argentina talisman inspired the team to glory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The picture appears finally clear that the famous Albiceleste No.10 will grace a stadium in the southern state after the Argentina Football Association (AFA) announced on Friday that its national team will play an international friendly there in November. The announcement on the AFA website said: "The Argentine national team, led by (coach) Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendly windows in the remainder of 2025. The first, in October, from 6 to 14, will be played in the United States (opponents and cities to be decided). The second FIFA friendlies in November, from 10 to 18, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India (opponents to be decided)." Argentina have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The draw will be held in Washington on December 5. Argentina has been the most popular international football team in Kerala for decades, the fierce loyalty built since Diego Maradona's magical game took them to triumph in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Messi's aura that steadily grew with his heroics in Barcelona only cemented this football love affair. During World Cups, the colour of flags in Kerala turn into the iconic white and light blue of Argentina. The support for Brazil and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal too is substantial, but pales before Messi's men. In 2012, when Maradona made a two-day promotional trip to Kerala, over 50,000 fans packed into a stadium at Kannur in north Kerala to have a glimpse of their football idol. After the 2022 World Cup, the Argentina team management thanked its Kerala fan base. It will be Argentina's first trip to India since the Messi-led side in 2011 beat Venezuela in a friendly in Kolkata. Kerala sports minister V Abdurahiman told the media on Saturday that Messi will be part of the squad. The game is likely to be played in Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram. The minister had faced left fans dismayed after his announcements last November and May of the Argentina team playing in Kerala didn't happen. "Initially, AFA planned it for 2026. However, we contacted them and requested that they hold the match in Kerala this year. We intend to bring the Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup," Abdurahiman said....