Lionel Messi Has A Star-Studded, Turbulent India Tour
NEW DELHI-Fresh off guiding Inter Miami to the 48th trophy of his illustrious career, Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi embarked on a high-profile three-day “GOAT Tour” across India, accompanied by longtime teammate Luis Suarez and fellow World Cup winner Rodrygo de Paul. Running from December 13-15, the tour blended celebrity encounters and extraordinary fan devotion with controversy that marked its opening leg.
Messi’s journey began in Kolkata, where thousands of fans lined up to welcome the football icon on his arrival. Amid the frenzy, he virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in Lake Town near the Sribhumi clock tower at an event hosted by West Bengal minister Sujit Bose. Addressing the gathering in Spanish, Messi offered a simple “Muchas Gracias” before continuing his remarks.
Soon after, Messi made a brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium, where he met Bollywood superstar and Kolkata Knight Riders co-owner Shah Rukh Khan and his younger son AbRam Khan, greeting the actor with a warm smile. Businessman Sanjeev Goenka, owner of the Mohun Bagan Super Giants and Lucknow Super Giants franchises, also met the Argentine great. Sharing the moment on social media, Goenka later wrote that Messi’s humility was “the real headline.”
However, excitement in Kolkata soon turned into unrest. Angry spectators, frustrated by limited access despite paying high ticket prices, vandalized parts of the stadium, forcing police to intervene. Messi left the venue earlier than scheduled as the situation spiraled out of control. The chaos overshadowed Messi’s return to the football loving city, where he last played in 2011.
Messi flew to Hyderabad, where his visit unfolded more smoothly. He participated in a series of photo ops and met Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who was presented with a commemorative GOATED No. 10 jersey in Argentina colors.
Mumbai marked the third and most relaxed stop of the tour. Messi spent nearly an hour at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, drawing loud cheers from a packed crowd. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar presented Messi with his signed India jersey and pointed to the No. 10 on the back, a number shared by both sporting greats.
Messi also greeted players from a celebrity football match featuring Indian stars such as Sunil Chhetri and Bala Devi, posed for photographs, and took a lap of the stadium alongside Suarez and de Paul, kicking footballs into the stands as keepsakes for fans. He later posed with several Bollywood stars who brought along their children.
The GOAT India Tour concluded in New Delhi on December 15. After a brief delay due to fog, Messi headed to the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the final event of the trip. He was presented with tickets for the India vs USA Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, along with a framed cricket bat and Team India jerseys. Former India goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan gifted signed T-shirts to the three footballers.
Addressing the crowd amid loud cheers, Messi thanked fans for the overwhelming affection shown during the tour. “It was intense and very short, but wonderful,” he said, describing the experience as “pure madness,” and added that he hoped to return to India in the future, whether to play a match or on another occasion. (IANS)
