In what is being described as a “historic” Asian Champions League Two encounter, Cristiano Ronaldo will go play FC Goa in India.
Group D of Asia’s second-tier club competition, which also includes Tajikistan’s Istiklol and Iraq’s Al-Zawraa, drew Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr and its superstars against the Indian Super League (ISL) team on Friday. There are eight groups, and the top two from each go to the next round.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment for FC Goa,” club CEO Ravi Puskur told The Associated Press. “To host Al Nassr and Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the biggest game in Indian club football history.”
The team is anticipated to be full-strength when actions starts in September, and Ronaldo, 40, has not yet won a major championship since joining the Riyadh club in 2022.
Al Nassr, which was placed third in the Saudi Pro League the previous season, is also home to well-known players like João Félix, a Portuguese forward who joined from Chelsea in July, and Sadio Mané, a former Liverpool star.
“For Indian football, this is historic,” Puskur added. “We are here on merit, and a match like this gives us the chance to show that we can compete on the continental stage, becoming part of the sport’s biggest narratives.”
Puskur is certain that the excitement will spread throughout the nation, providing much-needed momentum to the local game.
“It’s a unique opportunity to bring global attention to Indian football and, most importantly, a chance to spark a greater interest in Indian football among fans across the country, giving the game the spotlight it has long needed,” he said.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Argentina football team and star player Lionel Messi in Kerala for a friendly encounter in November of this year was confirmed by Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Saturday.
He was addressing reporters in Thiruvananthapuram after the Argentina Football Association (AFA) declared that their national side, under manager Lionel Scaloni, would go to Luanda, Angola, and Kerala for friendly matches.
The administration had originally asked AFA to set the match for either October or November of this year, according to Abdurahiman.
“Initially, AFA planned it for 2026. However, we contacted them and requested that they hold the match in Kerala this year. Now, AFA has officially confirmed it. We intend to bring the Argentina squad that won the 2022 World Cup,” the minister said.
Expressing his happiness, Abdurahiman added, “A lot of effort has gone into bringing the Argentina football team to Kerala. We have started planning the rest of the arrangements and will soon discuss the details, including the venue, with the Chief Minister”.
According to him, the game is keenly anticipated by several lakh football lovers in the state. “Our intention is to provide a platform for fans to see Messi play in Kerala,” he said.
The minister added that a government order had been issued in this regard and that the event had been approved by the Reserve Bank of India and the Union Sports Ministry.
Regarding the opposition team, he said, “We will select a team from among FIFA’s top 50. Several teams have approached us. The Australian football team has expressed interest, and we also have a sports exchange agreement with them. Similarly, three or four other teams have contacted us.”
