Messi-led Argentina national team to play in Kerala next year
World Cup-winning Argentinian football team led by iconic Lionel Messi will play in Kochi next year, Kerala State Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced on Wednesday.
Barcelona fans had put up an incredible tifo to show their gratitude for the genius that is Lionel Messi during their UEFA Champions League clash with Chelsea at the Nou Camp and the Argentine responded to their gesture with a thank-you post on Instagram.
The Blaugrana faithful unveiled the epic banner just before kick-off on Wednesday night, with the words “Long Live The King” and an iconic picture of Messi celebrating last year’s 6-1 win over PSG emblazoned across the nearly 50-foot tifo.
And Messi responded after the game with a picture of the gigantic banner with a caption that, after translation, read: Thank you for the sample of affection, reception and support throughout the game!!!! Nice night! Let’s go for more,”.
While all the chatter on several platforms in the build-up had been about the Cules’ display of affection for their favourite son, once the game got underway, Messi’s barnstorming performance against a hapless Blues side quickly became the talk of the town.
The diminutive forward opened the scoring with a cheeky nutmeg finish in the third minute itself before setting up Ousmane Dembele to extend Barcelona’s lead in the 20th minute.
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Chelsea continued to push for an away goal, with wingers Willian and Eden Hazard probing the hosts’ defence, but Messi stamped his class on the tie in the second-half with yet another between-the-legs finish past Thibaut Courtois to snuff out any hopes the Blues might have had.
Many claimed the difference between the sides was the pressnce of Messi, who was showered with acclaim from the likes of Antonio Conte, among many others, after full-time at the Nou Camp for his virtuoso display.
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Barcelona, who are heavy favourites to clinch this year’s continental crown after missing out on the last two seasons, join Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Liverpool, AS Roma, Sevilla and Juventus in the last-eight.
The UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw will take place at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on Friday at 1200 GMT/17.30 IST.
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