Lionel Messi confirmed on Thursday that he would be taking part in the highly anticipated GOAT Tour of India 2025, describing it as a “honour” to return to the “passionate football nation” where he last played 14 years ago.
“It is such an honour for me to make this trip. India is a very special country, and I have good memories from my time there 14 years ago — the fans were fantastic.
“India is a passionate football nation, and I look forward to meeting a new generation of fans while sharing the love I have for this beautiful game,” Messi said in an official statement.
Messi made the first official confirmation of the visit on Thursday, although the organizers had already revealed the program on August 15.
Messi’s fast-paced four-city tour will start in Kolkata on December 13 and continue to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. On December 15, the tour will conclude with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Argentine sensation will be the star of football seminars, cuisine festivals, meet-and-greets, concerts, and even a padel exhibition at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium throughout the tour.
Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata will host Messi’s event; this was also confirmed on Thursday.
The stadium is set to welcome the legend for a second time on December 13, when the ‘GOAT Concert’ and ‘GOAT Cup’ will be staged, with Messi expected to share the stage with Indian greats Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Leander Paes.
Along with the inauguration of Messi’s largest-ever statue, organizers also want to unveil a 25-foot-high mural during Durga Puja celebrations. It is anticipated that event tickets will start at Rs 3,500.
Messi’s trip to India will be his first since he led Argentina in a FIFA friendly match against Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium in 2011.
Messi’s preference for Argentine-made tea that will have a unique Assamese twist will be showcased during a cuisine and tea festival in Kolkata.
Along with attending the “Padel GOAT Cup” in Mumbai, Messi will be part of a celebrity line-up that may feature Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, and MS Dhoni.
Unprecedented security procedures are anticipated, involving both Messi’s squad and local law enforcement.
The Argentina national football team has added India to its itinerary for a FIFA international window in November, even as Messi gets ready for his December obligations.
Although the opponents and venue have not yet been decided, the Lionel Scaloni-coached world champions are scheduled to play a friendly in Kerala from November 10–18.
If that visit is approved, Messi might make two journeys to India in two months. The 38-year-old forward’s participation in the Kerala game is still up in the air, though.
Messi, the 2022 World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist, continues to draw unheard-of attention from around the globe, and his December tour is anticipated to be one of the largest football-related events ever seen in India.
