Messi, Suarez, De Paul Set To Walk The Ramp In Mumbai; 2022 WC Memorabilia To Go Under The Hammer For Charity

Lionel Messi won’t just be dazzling fans on the pitch during his India tour — he’ll be hitting the runway too.

The Argentine icon is set to walk the ramp in Mumbai “for a cause” on December 14, as part of a 45-minute philanthropic fashion segment during the Mumbai leg of the G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025.

Promoter Satadru Dutta told PTI that Messi will be joined by long-time strike partner Luis Suarez and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul for the special showcase.

“It’s a fully reserved night,” Dutta said. “There will be celebrity models, celebrity cricketers, Bollywood celebrities, millionaires and founders. Tiger and Jackie Shroff, John Abraham, among others.”

Organisers have also formally asked Messi to bring select memorabilia from Argentina’s 2022 World

Cup triumph. These items will be auctioned during the event, adding a high-value charitable draw to the already star-studded evening.

Suarez, meanwhile, will take centre stage again in a separate Spanish music performance, adding a burst of Latin flavour to the night.

The Mumbai celebrations begin at 5 pm at Wankhede Stadium, preceded by a Padel Cup at 3.30 pm at the Cricket Club of India — a nod to the sport Messi and Suarez often enjoy during downtime.

The Mumbai event is part of Messi’s extensive, four-city India tour that also includes Kolkata, Hyderabad and New Delhi.

Food Fest, Mural & Mega Crowd

Kolkata is rolling out a cultural showcase in honour of the Argentine icon. A special Argentine-Indian fusion food festival will spotlight Messi’s love for mate (herbal tea).

A 25ft x 20ft Messi mural, designed for the upcoming Durga Puja season, will also be unveiled. Fans will get to paint and leave messages on accompanying boards across major Puja pandal routes. The finished mural will later be presented to Messi at Salt Lake Stadium.

Hyderabad Leg

The cancellation of Messi’s proposed friendly in Kochi prompted organisers to expand the tour into a pan-India circuit — Kolkata (East), Hyderabad (South), Mumbai (West), and New Delhi (North).

In Hyderabad, Messi will attend the Hyderabad GOAT Cup at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium from 7 pm, supported by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The programme includes:

• A 7v7 celebrity match
• A masterclass for scouted youth players
• Penalty shootouts
• A musical concert celebrating Messi

Final Leg & Meeting with the PM

Messi will conclude his India tour in New Delhi, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

The event will also honour Minerva Academy’s youth team, fresh off a landmark year in which their U-14 and U-15 squads won the Gothia Cup, Dana Cup, and Norway Cup, and reached the Helsinki Cup final.

A nine-member celebrity match will also take place during the Delhi leg.

(with PTI inputs)