Argentine football legend Lionel Messi is set to embark on a historic four-city tour of India in December, marking his first visit to the country since 2011. The tour, officially confirmed by promoter Satadru Dutta, will begin in Kolkata on December 12 before moving to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and concluding in New Delhi on December 15 with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Messi will land in Kolkata on December 12 for the longest leg of his trip, which includes a meet-and-greet session, a food and tea festival showcasing Argentine mate and Indian Assam tea, and the unveiling of his statue. A 25-foot mural dedicated to Messi, featuring messages and artwork from fans during Durga Puja, will also be formally presented to him. The day’s highlight will be the GOAT Concert and the GOAT Cup — a seven-a-side football match at either Eden Gardens or Salt Lake Stadium, featuring Messi alongside Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham, and Bhaichung Bhutia.
On December 13, Messi will travel to Ahmedabad for a private event hosted by the Adani Foundation. The following day in Mumbai, he will participate in a meet-and-greet at CCI Brabourne, before attending the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Wankhede Stadium. A unique addition will see Messi play padel, a sport he is fond of, alongside celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan and Leander Paes.
The tour will culminate in Delhi on December 15, where Messi is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi at his residence before attending the final GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla. The Delhi District Cricket Association has invited Indian cricket stars Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill to join the celebrations.
Ticket prices for the Kolkata events are expected to start at ₹3,500, with organisers anticipating sell-out crowds across all venues. Security arrangements, Dutta confirmed, will be overseen jointly by local authorities and Messi’s team to ensure a safe and memorable experience for fans.
This marks Messi’s first return to India since leading Argentina in a FIFA friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium in September 2011 — a game still remembered by Indian football enthusiasts as the “Messi match.”
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