Lionel Messi's long-awaited visit to India is officially confirmed, with the Argentine legend set to begin his "GOAT Tour of India 2025" in Kolkata on December
12, event promoter Satadru Dutta announced on Friday (August 15, 2025).
As earlier reported by PTI, Kolkata will be Messi's first stop in a whirlwind three-city tour-later extended to four-covering Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. His trip will conclude on December 15 with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the PM's residence.
This marks Messi's first visit to India since 2011, when he led Argentina in a FIFA friendly against Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium.
"I got the authorisation and afterwards made it official (on social media). Messi will post any day between August 28 and September 1 with the official poster with all details and a small introduction of his tour," Dutta told PTI.
Dutta revealed that he first met Messi's father earlier this year to present the proposal, followed by a 45-minute meeting with Messi at his home on February 28.
"I explained the plan and what we wanted to do. He seemed convinced it was worth it and committed to coming," Dutta said.
While there's speculation that Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets could join the trip, Dutta remained tight-lipped on confirmations.
Lionel Messi India Tour in Full: Schedule, Cities and Activities
Kolkata Leg of the Tour
Messi will arrive in Kolkata late on December 12 and spend two days-his longest stay in any city during the tour. On the morning of December 13, he will attend a meet-and-greet at Taj Bengal, which will also feature a food and tea festival.
"He's a lover of mate (Argentine herbal tea), so I am doing a fusion of Argentine and Indian Assam tea. This will be an extra addition, to be held on the sidelines of the meet-and-greet event. All Bengali fish, including hilsa, and sweet delicacies will be there on the platter for the food festival," Dutta said.
The day will also include the unveiling of Messi's largest-ever statue and a "GOAT Concert" alongside the "GOAT Cup" seven-a-side football match, to be held either at Eden Gardens or Salt Lake Stadium, with final venue confirmation expected in 15 days.
Another unique element will be a 25-foot-high, 20-foot-wide mural of Messi created ahead of Durga Puja, allowing fans to paint, write messages, and leave notes in a message box.
"That mural will be presented to Messi when he's inside the stadium for the GOAT Concert," Dutta confirmed.
The GOAT Cup in Kolkata will see Messi play in a celebratory seven-a-side exhibition alongside Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham, and Bhaichung Bhutia. Tickets are expected to start at ₹3,500, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee likely to felicitate Messi.
Security will be at the highest level, with Kolkata Police and Messi's own team taking extra precautions.
"The Kolkata Police Commissioner made it clear that I'm responsible for the arrangements and ensure that there are no security lapses. He wants everyone to go with a happy memory and without any untoward incident," Dutta stressed.
Ahmedabad Stop
On the evening of December 13, Messi will head to Ahmedabad for a private event hosted by the Adani Foundation.
Mumbai Leg
The Maharashtra Cricket Association also plans a "GOAT Captain's Moment," pairing Messi with cricketing icons Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma, along with Bollywood stars including Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, and Tiger Shroff.
Delhi Finale
On December 15, Messi will meet Prime Minister Modi before attending the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium. Delhi cricket officials are also looking to bring in Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, a self-confessed Messi fan. This visit will come just a day after India's T20I match against South Africa in Dharamsala.
