Kolkata, August 15, 2025 – Lionel Messi’s long-awaited visit to India has received final confirmation, with the Argentine icon set to begin his three-city “GOAT Tour of India 2025” in Kolkata on December 12, event promoter Satadru Dutta announced on Friday.
Messi’s first stop will be Kolkata, followed by Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, where the tour will conclude with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 15. This will be Messi’s first trip to India since 2011, when he led Argentina in a FIFA friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Dutta, who secured the final authorisation earlier this month, said Messi will make the official announcement through his social media channels between August 28 and September 1. He added that discussions with Messi and his father earlier this year convinced the footballer to commit to the tour.
While Messi’s entourage may include Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, organisers have not revealed the confirmed list. The tour will feature football masterclasses with children in each city to inspire young talent.
Messi will land in Kolkata on December 12 and stay for two days. His December 13 schedule includes a morning meet-and-greet alongside a fusion food and tea festival, blending Argentine mate with Indian Assam tea. A major highlight will be the unveiling of his statue, followed by the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at either Eden Gardens or Salt Lake Stadium. A massive mural, painted and inscribed with messages by fans during Durga Puja celebrations, will also be presented to him.
The GOAT Cup in Kolkata will be a celebratory seven-a-side match featuring Messi alongside Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham and Bhaichung Bhutia. Tickets are expected to start at ₹3,500, with a sell-out crowd anticipated. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also expected to felicitate the football legend. Security arrangements will be handled jointly by organisers and Kolkata Police, with Messi’s team emphasising strict protocols.
After Kolkata, Messi will head to Ahmedabad on December 13 evening for a private Adani Foundation event. The Mumbai leg on December 14 will include a meet-and-greet at CCI Brabourne, the GOAT Concert, and the GOAT Cup at Wankhede Stadium. Messi will also participate briefly in the Mumbai Padel GOAT Cup, with Shah Rukh Khan and Leander Paes among the likely participants. Cricket greats Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma are expected to join him for a special “GOAT Captain’s Moment,” alongside Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan and Tiger Shroff.
The tour’s final stop will be in Delhi on December 15, where Messi will meet Prime Minister Modi before attending the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla. Sources said Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, both admirers of Messi, may join the Delhi leg, scheduled just a day after India’s T20I match against South Africa in Dharamsala.
