Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has officially confirmed his much-speculated visit to India this December, marking his return to the country after 14 years. In a post shared on his official Facebook page, the World Cup-winning captain said, “I’m truly excited to be visiting a beautiful country like India this December.” Messi will take part in several events during his tour, including a concert, a youth football clinic, the inauguration of a padel cup and various charity initiatives. These programmes will be held in major Indian cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, with the possibility of an additional location.
According to his post, all event tickets will be exclusively available on District app. He also mentioned that he looks forward to meeting some of India’s biggest stars and influential personalities during the tour. Indian media had earlier reported that Messi would be on a three-day tour of India from December 13 to 15. One of the key highlights of the trip is expected to be a special 7-a-side cricket match at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium, where Messi may share the field with cricket greats like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.
Fans could witness the rare spectacle of Messi trading his football boots for a cricket bat; a moment bound to be unforgettable for Indian sports lovers. Messi’s Kolkata visit will also be significant. He is expected to receive a grand felicitation at the historic Eden Gardens stadium, hosted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
The football legend will also conduct a football workshop for children and inaugurate a youth football clinic in the city. A special 7-a-side tournament named the “GOAT Cup” will be organised in his honour.
This will be Messi’s second visit to India. His first was in 2011 when he played an international friendly for Argentina against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. Now 38, Messi plays for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. He has already indicated that 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the USA, could be his final appearance in the tournament.
With his December tour officially announced, excitement is already building among fans across India who will be eager to catch a glimpse of the footballing GOAT live in action and perhaps, even holding a cricket bat.
PT/ra
