Lionel Messi returns to India after 14 years for a three-day visit — what to know
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Legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi is set to arrive in Kolkata shortly after midnight tonight, accompanied by teammate Rodrigo De Paul and Uruguayan icon Luis Suárez, marking the beginning of a three-day, multi-city India tour covering Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
Messi is returning to India after 14 years. His last visit was in September 2011, when he captained Argentina in a friendly match against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium). Over 75,000 fans witnessed Argentina’s 1–0 victory, sealed by defender Nicolás Otamendi.
Kolkata: Day 1
On Tuesday morning, Messi will meet a selected group of fans before virtually unveiling a 70-foot statue at the Sreebhoomi Sports Club, from his hotel room at Taj Bengal.
By 11:30 a.m., the football star will attend a public event at the Salt Lake Stadium, where he is expected to participate in a friendly match. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are among the expected attendees.
Later in the afternoon, Messi will fly to Hyderabad, where he is scheduled to appear in a friendly match at the RGI Cricket Stadium, Uppal. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is expected to play in the match.
Mumbai: December 14
On the 14th, Messi will be in Mumbai for a high-profile event at Wankhede Stadium, featuring a 7v7 celebrity match and a musical concert celebrating his career. He will also take part in a fashion show and an auction of select memorabilia from Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph, with proceeds supporting charity initiatives.
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Delhi: December 15
The final day of Messi’s India tour includes a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, followed by a public event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
About the GOAT Tour 2025
Messi’s India trip—branded as the “GOAT Tour 2025”—is organised by event management and sports promotion firm A Satadru Dutta Initiative (ASDI), founded by sports promoter Satadru Dutta. Since 2011, ASDI has facilitated visits from global football icons including Pelé, Diego Maradona, Cafu, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, and Argentina’s World Cup–winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
Kerala’s Missed Opportunity
The Kerala government had been exploring the possibility of hosting Messi and the Argentina national team for a friendly match at Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. Although Héctor Daniel Cabrera, venue manager of the Argentina Football Association (AFA), inspected the stadium, the AFA’s official 2025 schedule ultimately listed no matches in India. The proposed Kerala event—reportedly backed by Malayalam news network Reporter Broadcasting Corporation (RBC)—became embroiled in controversy and did not materialise.