Sandesh Jhingan hopes Messi’s visit «sparks a deeper conversation» about the preservation of Indian football

Sandesh Jhingan has said he was “genuinely happy that millions of people experienced a once-in-a-lifetime moment” during Lionel Messi’s recent GOAT Tour of India and hoped it would “spark a deeper conversation not just about loving football, but about sustaining it at home” in a social media post.

The 32-year-old’s position comes at a time when there is great uncertainty over the future of domestic football in India. Little clarity remains on the future of the Indian Super League, with the recently concluded AIFF Super Cup the only top-level domestic men’s football set to take place in the near future.

Jhingan said he was delighted by the receptiveness to Messi’s visit. “It made me genuinely happy to see that our country loves football, can fill stadiums to full capacity and people are willing to spend lakhs to witness the sport.”

However, he noted the level of expenditure in the context of the current state of affairs in Indian domestic football.

«However, what worries me and makes me think deeply is that at a time when our own football ecosystem is in peril and perhaps going through one of the most difficult phases, we are on the brink of no more active domestic football ahead of us. It feels like we are on the verge of shutting everything down because there is no willingness to invest in football in India, yet crores have been spent on this tour,» he said.

ALSO READ: Who did India captain and coach vote for at the 2025 FIFA Best Awards?

“What this tells me is that we love the sport, but maybe not enough to support our own players,” he added.

Jhingan also said: «I am aware of the criticism that comes our way, and I accept responsibility for performance. But football does not exist in isolation. Anyone who truly understands the game knows how profoundly structure, stability and belief influence what ultimately happens on the pitch.»

Published on December 17, 2025