Lionel Messi’s long-awaited visit to India has been officially confirmed, with the Argentine legend set to begin his ‘GOAT Tour of India 2025’ in Kolkata on December 12, promoter Satadru Dutta announced on Friday (August 15, 2025).
The tour will cover four cities — Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi, concluding on December 15 with a meeting between Messi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.
This marks Messi’s first visit to India since 2011, when he played a FIFA friendly for Argentina at Kolkata’s iconic Salt Lake Stadium.
Messi will land in Kolkata on the night of December 12, staying two days in what will be his longest stop of the tour. His schedule on December 13 includes:
Meet-and-greet with fans at Taj Bengal, paired with a fusion food and tea festival celebrating both Argentine and Bengali flavors.
Unveiling of his biggest-ever statue and a massive 25x20 ft mural, which fans will help paint and dedicate messages on during Durga Puja festivities.
The GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Eden Gardens (or Salt Lake Stadium as a backup).
The football exhibition match will see Messi team up with Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham, and Bhaichung Bhutia.
Tickets are expected to start at ₹3,500, with a packed stadium anticipated. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is also set to felicitate the star.
Ahmedabad (Dec 13 evening): A private event hosted by the Adani Foundation.
Mumbai (Dec 14): Meet-and-greet at CCI Brabourne, followed by the GOAT Concert and Cup at Wankhede. Messi will also play in the Padel GOAT Cup, with celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan and Leander Paes expected to join. A highlight includes the “GOAT Captain’s Moment” with Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma, alongside Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, and Tiger Shroff.
Delhi (Dec 15): Messi will meet PM Modi before attending the finale concert and match at Feroz Shah Kotla, where Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill are expected to join celebrations.