The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin confirmed today that Lionel Messi's Argentina will not visit Bangladesh to play a friendly game this year.

"Argentina will not visit Bangladesh this year as it will not possible to prepare the venue for the match. We have communicated with the Sports Ministry and sent them an official letter and what they informed us that it will not possible for them to prepare the venue by this year," Salahuddin told The Daily Star.

"I had, however, a doubt when we were going to make a deal with the sponsor as we have only one ground," he said, adding that the decision was made last month. 

Salahuddin earlier said in January this year that they were exploring options to have Argentina play a friendly game in Bangladesh this year. 

The last time Messi and Argentina visited Bangladesh was on September 6 in 2011 for a friendly against Nigeria at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The BFF had to splurge around three to four million USD the last time it hosted La Albicelestes for an invitational friendly.

Argentina are now the World Champions after Messi led his country to their third global title by beating France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in December last year. 

Salahuddin went on to further confirm that the BFF had approached the reigning World Champions and received a positive response. 
Asked whether it would be possible for them to bring Argentina next year, the BFF boss replied: "It will all depend on sponsor."