Lionel Messi's India Tour: Celebrity Events Without Football

Lionel Messi is set to return to India for the first time since 2011, although this visit will not feature any competitive football. The Argentinian star's previous appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium attracted over 85,000 spectators who witnessed Argentina's 1-0 victory over Venezuela in a friendly match. This year's ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’ will consist of promotional events across several cities, commencing on Saturday in Kolkata and concluding on Monday in New Delhi.

Messi's itinerary for the tour does not include a match, as the visit is primarily commercial in nature. Kolkata, a city renowned for its rich football history and past visits from legends such as Diego Maradona and Pelé, will host Messi again. The organisers have made 78,000 tickets available at the Salt Lake Stadium, with prices reaching up to ₹7,000 for a brief 45-minute appearance scheduled for Saturday morning.

The football superstar will spend less than 72 hours in India, travelling to Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. His engagements include meetings with state leaders, business executives, and entertainment figures. Notably, he is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and India's cricket captain Shubman Gill, who has expressed admiration for Messi, is also anticipated to meet the football icon following a T20 match on December 14.

The highlight of Messi's tour will be a charity fashion show in Mumbai, lasting 45 minutes, featuring prominent names such as Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. According to Satadru Dutta, a promoter of the event, “There will be celebrity models, cricketers, Bollywood actors, and business leaders, including Tiger Shroff and John Abraham.” Furthermore, the organisers have requested that Messi bring items from his 2022 World Cup triumph to be auctioned during the Mumbai event. Before the fashion show at Wankhede Stadium, there will be a Padel Cup event at the Cricket Club of India.

Kolkata will welcome Messi on Saturday, where he will stay at a hotel along the EM Bypass and attend a sponsor-only event in the morning. A new 70-foot statue of Messi will be inaugurated virtually from his hotel due to police restrictions on public events. Additionally, a large mural dedicated to Messi, measuring 25 feet by 20 feet, is set to be unveiled and later presented to him at Salt Lake Stadium.

Following his time in Kolkata, Messi will fly to Hyderabad at 2 PM. This stop was added after a scheduled friendly match in Kochi was cancelled. In Hyderabad, he will participate in the GOAT Cup, an event supported by the Telangana Chief Minister, which will feature a celebrity football match, penalty shootouts, coaching sessions for young players, and a musical performance.

The final leg of Messi's tour will take place in Delhi, where he will meet with Prime Minister Modi. During this visit, young players from the Minerva Academy, who have successfully competed in various international tournaments this year, will be recognised in his presence. A nine-a-side celebrity match is also planned for the capital.

Kolkata's football culture has a storied history of hosting global football icons. The city welcomed Pelé and his New York Cosmos in 1977 for an exhibition match against Mohun Bagan, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Pelé returned in 2015, famously stating, “You can never have another Pelé.” Other significant football figures, such as Dunga and Diego Forlán, have also drawn large crowds during their visits.

However, the tour has not been without criticism. Some former Indian footballers have expressed disappointment over the nature of the events, characterising them as mere publicity stunts. Gautam Sarkar, a former midfielder for Mohun Bagan, remarked, “These are nothing but gimmicks. Messi is coming only to do a handshake... Instead of bringing Messi, our focus should be on improving football in the country.” Former India defender Subrata Bhattacharya echoed these sentiments, stating he felt “insulted” by the lack of competitive matches during Messi's visit.