GOAT tour 2025: Messi to light up Kolkata, Mumbai & Delhi cricket stadiums with football and concerts
Lionel Messi confirms India visit for GOAT Tour 2025, with Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi stops. Meet the football legend and catch special events, concerts, and celebrity matches.
Lionel Messi, the football legend and 2022 World Cup-winning captain, has confirmed that he will be visiting India this December. Describing it as an “honour” to return to the country, Messi expressed excitement about meeting Indian fans after 14 years since his last visit.
“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,” Messi said in an official statement. “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.”
The four-city tour, part of the GOAT Tour 2025, will begin in Kolkata and conclude in New Delhi, featuring football, concerts, and special events.
Messi GOAT Tour 2025 – Schedule
| Date | City | Event Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 12 | Kolkata | Arrival in India |
| Dec 13 | Kolkata | Statue unveiling, GOAT Concert, GOAT Cup (7-a-side soft-touch football match) with Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia, Leander Paes & John Abraham |
| Dec 13 (Evening) | Ahmedabad | Private sponsor event |
| Dec 14 | Mumbai | Padel GOAT Cup, potential appearances by Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Bollywood celebrities |
| Dec 15 | Delhi | GOAT Concert at Arun Jaitley Stadium, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi |
Tickets for events in Kolkata are expected to start at Rs 3,500. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to felicitate Messi during the programme.
Messi’s Previous Visit to India
Messi first visited India in 2011, playing a friendly against Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. That match was also his first as Argentina captain.
Possible November Visit: Argentina Team in Kerala
The Argentina men’s football team, coached by Lionel Scaloni, is scheduled to play a FIFA international friendly in India during the November window (10–18 November). While the venue is likely to be Kerala, the opponents are yet to be confirmed.
A source from Kerala stated: “I will be surprised if the legendary footballer comes twice in a month. However, it is most likely that the Argentina team minus Messi may come to play in Kerala.”
Messi’s Achievements
| Achievement | Year / Details |
|---|---|
| Olympic Gold Medal | 2008 Beijing Olympics |
| FIFA World Cup Winner | 2022 (captain) |
| Copa America Winner | 2024 (second time) |
| First India Visit | 2011 (friendly vs Venezuela) |
Messi’s December tour is expected to be one of the biggest football-related events ever staged in India, attracting fans from across the country to celebrate the GOAT of football.
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