Football legend Lionel Messi will be on a promotional tour to India around December. As part of this tour, it is reported that Messi will play a cricket match alongside MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. It is further reported that the game will be a seven-a-side cricket match scheduled to take place on December 14.

For the one of a kind event, Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has been locked in as the venue and not only Dhoni and Kohli, legendary Sachjn Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma could also be seen gracing the stage. For the same, the event organisers have cited permission from the Mumbai Cricket Association to conduct the event.

“Messi will be at Wankhede Stadium on December 14. He is likely to play a cricket match, too, with former and current cricketers. The organisers will come up with a complete schedule once everything is finalised,” a MCA source told The Indian Express.

See Also: Full schedule of Messi's visit 

Messi has previously visited India

Messi will likely visit India from December 13-15. While Mumbai will be one of his pitstop, the other cities could be Delhi and Kolkata where football is predominantly played compared to other metropolitan cities in India. This will not be the first time Messi will be visiting India, in 2011, he played a friendly game friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.

It has been a great news for India and all the football loves of the country as Argentina’s legendary footballer and the global icon, Lionel Messi, who is regarded to be the greatest football player in the history, is set to visit the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for an event on December 14 as the reports of Times of India has reported.

The Wankhede Stadium has witnessed various historic moments for India in the past years, including the memorable victory of the Indian side during the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka, besides getting a program for the celebration of the 2007 and 2024 T20 World Cup wins. Messi’s visit will add another chapter to the colorful history of the ground.

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‘Yes, Messi is set to visit the Wankhede Stadium for an event on December 14. The organizers of the event (Wizcraft) have sought permission for the event, which will be ticketed. Their request was discussed by the Mumbai Cricket Association's Apex Council in a meeting recently, and the permission was granted.’ The MCA source was revealed as reported by TOI on August 01.

Lionel Messi to visit Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi in December 2025

It has also been reported that a few superstar cricketers are expected to attend the event. If the reports are to be believed, then the schedule will be between December 13 and 15, with veteran football star visiting Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai, for a series of celebrations of his career, along with various events of the sport.

It has also been known that Messi will be felicitated at the iconic Eden Gardens’ stadium in Kolkata in the presence of the West Bengal chief minister, Sri Mamata Banerjee. During his stay in the city, he will conduct a workshop on the game and launch a clinic, for which an event will be held, called ‘GOAT CUP’ in his honour at the Eden Gardens.

On Jun 06, Kerala’s sports minister, V Abdurahiman, confirmed that the Argentina football team under Messi will visit Kerala for a friendly match in October or November at the Greenfield International Stadium. The government will host the team as the state guests, besides giving its full support. The previous occasion of the footballer visiting India came in 2011 when he played a friendly game at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

A historic sports event unfolded when cricket star MS Dhoni teamed up with soccer icon Lionel Messi for the Lay’s India promotional campaign. The advertisement debuted before Mumbai Indians faced off against Chennai Super Kings on April 20, 2025, at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and promptly caught the attention of social media users. The advertisement on Lay’s India’s Instagram presented these famous global players as they combined their sports while inspiring strong admiration from fans across social networks.

Dhoni showcases his soccer abilities alongside Messi in a pitch match that features the cricket master at the same time as the football legend in the promotional ad. These two unexpected partners generated widespread fan excitement through online video distribution starting on X, where fans exclaimed the partnership was their “dream come true.” The advertisement's viewing experience gains strength from hitting audiences during the busy IPL season since it stimulates the widespread passion for cricket and football throughout the fan base. Dhoni produced a match-winning effort for CSK against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) IPL 2025 on April 14 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, with a score of 26* off 11 balls with four fours and a one-handed meter six to take CSK to a remarkable five-wicket win chasing 167, and succeeded in stopping their five-game losing streak. With the ad having been released a few days prior to this dazzling win, it has generated more impact and connected cricket and football fans together. CSK's disciplined bowling effort, spearheaded by Ravindra Jadeja's 2/24, marked LSG to 166/7. With CSK losing by 240 runs the last time they played LSG, CSK had a vaulting task in turning it around. Dhoni and Shivam Dube put together an invaluable 43-run strategy that gave CSK momentum to get over the line. 

People use social media platforms to express their enormous enthusiasm regarding the advertisement. Labeling Dhoni and Messi as “the ultimate GOATs” (Greatest of All Time) because they appreciate his dazzling football play while admiring her effortless grace. Lay's chose to unite the cohesive force of two legendary players who bring "Captain Cool" Dhoni's cricket attitude together with football prodigy Messi's record-setting abilities while demonstrating their connection to all people. Lay's India took advantage of this perfect match to develop an advertising campaign that moves beyond sports categories and attracts viewers from many backgrounds.

Watch the video 

Omg collaboration ad of legend goat ms dhoni and leo messi 😍😍😍😍 my dream dream came true

pic.twitter.com/aKSPEh5Q9b

— Thala super fan (@msdian__fan) April 16, 2025

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A Marketing Masterstroke 

This ad is a watershed moment in the history of sports marketing, as it brings together two icons whose fanbases transcend continents. By partnering with IPL's big-time reach, Lay's couldn't ask for better visibility. The Dhoni-Messi collaboration is not just an advertisement; it is a celebration of excellence by two greats in sport and a continuation of their legendary status while sparking conversations all over the world. As fans continue to share and celebrate this campaign, it will be hailed as a pivotal moment in brand storytelling.