Lionel Messi arrives in India for three-day tour

Lionel Messi arrives in India for three-day tour
Argentine soccer star Lionel Messi on a whirlwind tour of India - Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, India - December 13, 2025
Reuters

Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running from 13 to 15 December.

Messi is joined by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul for selected appearances. The tour begins in Kolkata, where he is due to take part in a friendly match, attend the virtual inauguration of a statue in his honour and meet former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In Hyderabad, Messi is scheduled to lead a football clinic for young players, including underprivileged children, in his capacity as a UNICEF ambassador. He will also take part in a seven-a-side exhibition match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium alongside Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. A musical event celebrating his career is planned for the evening.

In Mumbai, he is expected to appear in a celebrity football match, attend a Padel Cup event and take part in a charity fashion show featuring memorabilia from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory.

The tour is set to conclude in New Delhi, where Messi is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend events recognising local football talent.

Organisers say the GOAT India Tour combines sport, youth development and cultural engagement, highlighting Messi’s global appeal and efforts to inspire young footballers.

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