Messi’s ‘GOAT tour of India 2025’ to begin in Kolkata on December 12
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Lionel Messi’s long-awaited visit to India has been confirmed, with the Argentine football legend set to launch his ‘GOAT Tour of India 2025’ in Kolkata on December 12, event promoter Satadru Dutta announced on Friday.
The four-city tour will take Messi to Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and finally New Delhi, where he will conclude his trip with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 15.
This marks Messi’s first trip to India since 2011, when he played a FIFA friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. “I got the authorisation and afterwards made it official (on social media). Messi will post any day between Aug. 28 and Sept. 1 with the official poster with all details and a small introduction of his tour,” Dutta said, confirming the schedule.
The Kolkata leg — his longest stop — will include a meet-and-greet event featuring a unique Argentine-Indian tea fusion, a Bengali fish and sweets festival, and the unveiling of Messi’s largest statue.
Fans will also contribute to a massive 25x20-foot mural, which will later be presented to Messi at the ‘GOAT Concert’.
The evening will also see the ‘GOAT Cup’ — a seven-a-side exhibition match with Messi playing alongside Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham, and Bhaichung Bhutia.
Eden Gardens is the preferred venue, with Salt Lake Stadium as backup.
On the evening of December 13, Messi will travel to Ahmedabad for a private event hosted by the Adani Foundation. The Mumbai leg on December 14 will feature a meet-and-greet at CCI Brabourne, the GOAT Concert and Cup at Wankhede Stadium, and a special padel tennis match with celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan and Leander Paes.
The Maharashtra Cricket Association is also planning a ‘GOAT moment’ featuring Messi with Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Bollywood stars including Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, and Tiger Shroff.
The tour will end in New Delhi on December 15, where Messi will meet PM Modi before participating in the GOAT Concert and Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla. The Delhi District Cricket Association is inviting Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill to join the celebrations.
Security arrangements will be stringent. “The Kolkata Police Commissioner made it clear that I'm responsible for the arrangements and ensure that there are no security lapses. Messi’s team is also particular about this. It’s not just for him, but for every fan attending. He wants everyone to go with a happy memory and without any untoward incident,” Dutta emphasised.
