Singapore football fans, get ready!
Lionel Messi might finally be making his long-awaited appearance here in 2026.
The Argentina national team, reigning World Cup and Copa America champions, will play a friendly in Singapore in early 2026, as confirmed by HSBC and the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) on March 26.
The team will also play an exhibition match in India in October 2025, both part of a one-year partnership between HSBC and AFA.
This marks the first time a banking institution has teamed up with the Argentinian national team in Singapore and India, and HSBC is promising “exclusive perks” for its customers and partners.
Think premium tickets, VIP experiences, and even meet-and-greet sessions with the players.
According to the Straits Times, AFA president Claudio Tapia welcomed HSBC into the fold.
“The AFA’s international expansion continues to pave the way for leading companies such as HSBC to join the Argentinian national team family,” he said.
Singaporeans last saw Argentina in action in 2017 when they thrashed the Lions 6-0 at the National Stadium.
However, Messi was absent, having left early to prepare for his wedding to Antonela Roccuzzo.
Fans who had forked out between $40 and $188 for tickets were left gutted.
Messi’s recent track record of surprise absences will make fans nervous.
In February, he stayed on the bench when Inter Miami played a pre-season match against a Hong Kong XI, despite taking the field for 30 minutes in Japan just days later.
The 38,000-strong Hong Kong crowd, who paid upwards of HK$880 (S$150) per ticket, booed him off the pitch and went on social media to express their unhappiness.
Some saw it as a snub to China, despite Messi insisting he was nursing an adductor injury.
The backlash was swift, China scrapped Argentina’s planned friendlies in Hangzhou and Beijing.
So, the big question remains: Will Messi actually play in Singapore this time?
Only time will tell.
PHOTO: AFP