Abhinav Bindra feels ‘uneasy’ about Messi’s GOAT Tour

Olympic gold-winning former Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra on Monday criticized the way Argentine football great Lionel Messi’s tour of India has unfolded. He said he feels a “quiet sadness” at seeing millions spent for “moments of closeness and fleeting access” to the legend.

Messi’s three-day, four-city GOAT Tour has expectedly sparked fan frenzy everywhere he has traveled.

It has also created chaos as politicians, film celebrities, industrialists and officials thronged to click pictures with him. In Calcutta, this provoked a violent reaction from the general public, who could not even get a clear glimpse of him despite spending thousands of dollars on tickets.

«…as his recent visit to India unfolded, some of it felt chaotic and left me quietly uneasy. It forced me to pause and think, not in judgment, but in genuine concern about what we were really trying to achieve,» he wondered aloud in an extended post on X.

READ | Messi’s visit to India: a genuine love lost in dystopian opportunism

“Millions have been spent on moments of close-up photos and fleeting access to a legend. And yes, it is people’s money earned honestly and they can spend as they please.

“Yet I can’t help but feel a quiet sadness as I wonder what would have been possible if even a fraction of that energy and investment had gone into the foundations of the sport in our country,” he noted.

Bindra, however, made it clear that he has immense respect for Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain, who is currently one of the most recognizable and admired athletes in the world.

«Lionel Messi is one of those rare athletes whose story transcends sport. His journey from a child battling physical odds to a footballer who redefined excellence has moved millions around the world… I have deep respect and admiration for what he represents: perseverance, humility and an uncompromising pursuit of greatness,» said the gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

«I fully understand the economics of sport. I understand commercial realities, global branding and the magnetism of icons. I don’t blame Messi in any way. He has earned every opportunity that comes his way and admiration for greatness is natural and even beautiful,» he added.

Messi’s GOAT tour has had no real football connection, as his itinerary has been limited to meet-and-greet sessions and little or no direct engagement with fans. Bindra wondered whether the resources used to organize such a spectacle could have been put to better use.

“As a society, are we building a sporting culture or are we simply celebrating individuals from afar?” he asked.

“Great sporting nations are not built by moments, they are built by systems. By patience. By faith in the ordinary child with an extraordinary dream.

«Icons like Messi inspire us and that inspiration is of great importance. But inspiration must be met with intention. With long-term commitment. With choices that reflect not only what excites us today, but also what will strengthen us tomorrow,» he said.

Bindra said the most meaningful way to honor a legend of Messi’s stature is to create a robust sporting culture.

«That’s how sports cultures are born. And that’s how legacies endure,» he said.

Published on December 15, 2025