Lionel Messi’s India tour sealed: Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad on list

Lionel Messi’s long-awaited visit to India has been confirmed, with the Argentine superstar set to embark on his first visit to the country in 14 years.

The ‘GOAT Tour of India 2025’ will kick off in Kolkata on 12 December, followed by stops in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

Event promoter Satadru Dutta confirmed the news to PTI on Friday, revealing that Messi will announce the tour himself between August 28 and September 1, along with the official poster and details.

Kolkata, known for its deep love of football, will host Messi for his longest stop — two days and one night. He will arrive late on December 12 and begin the next day with a meet-and-greet session and a special food and tea festival.

The highlight will be the unveiling of Messi’s largest-ever statue, followed by the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at either Eden Gardens or Salt Lake Stadium. Later, a 25-by-20-foot mural will also be presented to him at the venue.

On the evening of December 13, Messi will travel to Ahmedabad for a private event hosted by the Adani Foundation.

The next day in Mumbai will feature a meet-and-greet at CCI Brabourne and the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at the Wankhede Stadium.

A unique addition will be the Mumbai Padel GOAT Cup, where Messi — a fan of the racket sport — will play alongside celebrities for five to ten minutes. Sources suggest Shah Rukh Khan and Leander Paes may join the match.

The Maharashtra Cricket Association is also planning a ‘GOAT Captain’s Moment,’ pairing Messi with cricketing greats Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma, alongside Bollywood stars including Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, and Tiger Shroff.

Messi’s tour will conclude in New Delhi on December 15, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before attending the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. Sources say the Delhi District Cricket Association is inviting cricketers Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill to join the event.

Across all four cities, Messi will conduct football masterclasses for children, aiming to inspire young Indian players. While there is speculation that Inter Miami teammates such as Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets may accompany him, organisers have yet to confirm the names.

Messi’s last visit to India was in 2011, when he captained Argentina in a FIFA friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.