Lionel Messi confirms the India visit, says it is a ‘honor to return’

Lionel Messi confirmed his participation in the long -awaited goat tour through India 2025 on Thursday and called it an «honor» to visit the «passionate football nation» where he last played for the last time 14 years ago.

«It’s such an honor for me to make this trip. India is a very special country, and I have good memories of my time 14 years ago – the fans were fantastic,» Messi said in an official explanation.

«India is a passionate football nation and I am looking forward to meeting a new generation of fans while I share the love I have for this beautiful game,» he added.

The organizers had already unveiled the travel route on 15 August and the Messi statement on Thursday was the first time that the football icon itself confirmed the visit.

Messi starts his whirlwind four -city tour in Kolkata on December 13 before traveling to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. The journey ends on December 15 with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

During the Tour, the Argentinian superstar concerts, meet-and-grreet sessions, food festivals, football master classes and even a padel exhibition in the Brabourne Stadium of Mumbai in Mumbai in Mumbai.

In Kolkata, the Messi event will be held at Salt Lake Stadium, which was also confirmed on Thursday.

This time, the stadium will organize the legend for the second time in the «Goat Concert» and «Goat Cup» on December 13, where Messi is expected to share the field with Indian icons Sourv Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia and Leander Paes.

Organizers are also planning to reveal a 25-foot high mural during Durga Puja festivities, together with the inauguration of the largest statue of Messi ever. Tickets for the events are expected to start from RS 3,500.

This will be Messi’s first visit to India since 2011, when he is Argentina leader in a FIFA -friendly against Venezuela in the Salt Lake Stadium.

Promoter Satadru Dutta, who secured the authorization earlier this year after meetings with Messi and his father, has a spectacle that bends Indian and Argentinian culture.

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A Food and Tea Festival in Kolkata will emphasize Messi’s preference for Argentinian tea, with a special Assam fusion.

In Mumbai, Messi will also attend the «Padel Goat Cup» and participate in a celebrity line-up that could be Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Bollywood stars.

Security schemes are expected to be unprecedented, involving both Messi’s team and the local authorities.

Messi also in Kerala in November?

Even while Messi is preparing for his obligations in December, the National Football team of Argentina has included India in his schedule for a November FIFA International window.

The world champion coached by Lionel Scaloni plays a friendly in Kerala between 10 and 18 November, although the opponent and location still have to be completed.

If that visit continues, this can mean that Messi makes two trips to India within two months. However, it is still to be seen whether the 38-year-old attacker will appear in the Kerala competition.

The November Friendly is part of three games during the window, with the other two planned in Angola.

Messi, an Olympic gold medal winner and 2022 World Cup Winning Captain, will continue to attract unprecedented fanfare worldwide, and his tour in December is expected to be one of the largest football -related events ever in India.

Published on October 2, 2025