The visit marks Lionel Messi’s return to the country after more than a decade and comes as his legacy reaches new heights following Argentina’s World Cup triumph and his record eighth Ballon d’Or. (Image credit: Agencies) Lionel Messi’s arrival in India sparked scenes of extraordinary excitement as thousands of fans braved the winter cold and stayed up well past midnight to welcome the Argentine football icon on his much-anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025. Messi landed in the early hours of Saturday, setting off a wave of celebrations, chants and flag-waving as supporters gathered outside his airport hotel, hoping to later gather at the airport and hope the Cup Winner captain.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!From flashing phone cameras to deafening chants of his name, the atmosphere reflected the figure Messi commands across generations. Children sat on shoulders, drums rolled through the night and the crowd strewn with Argentina jerseys as security staff worked to manage the unprecedented turnout. Messi arrived with long-time team-mate Luis Suárez and Argentina team-mate Rodrigo De Paul, adding to the buzz around the tour.
Messi lands in Kolkata at 2:26am, the city explodes as the GOAT India tour now kicks off the midnight mad scenes!
Despite tight security that prevented many fans from seeing him up close, the mood remained festive, with supporters calling the moment a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hotels, streets and public spaces near his route quickly turned into centers of celebration, underscoring Messi’s immense popularity in India.The visit marks Messi’s return to the country after more than a decade and comes as his legacy reaches new heights following Argentina’s World Cup triumph and his record eighth Ballon d’Or. Over the next 72 hours, the global superstar is set to tour four cities, combining fan meetings, football events and high-level meetings.Messi kicks off his India tour in Kolkata with a meet and greet with sponsors, followed by a spectacular commemorative program at the Salt Lake Stadium. The event will include music, dancing and an exhibition match along with a special ‘Master Class’ session for young footballers. He’s also set to take a lap of honor and virtually unveil a 70-foot statue dedicated to him.From Kolkata, Messi will fly to Hyderabad for an evening program at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, which includes a short exhibition match and a football clinic. The tour will then move to Mumbai, where Messi will attend an event at the Wankhede Stadium and take part in a philanthropic fashion show alongside Suárez and De Paul. The final leg of the tour will take him to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, capping off a visit that has already charmed Indian fans.
Lionel Messi India Tour 2025: Itinerary
Kolkata (Saturday)Meet and greet sponsorsA tribute to the Salt Lake Stadium programExhibition Match: Mohun Bagan ‘Messi’ All Stars vs Diamond Harbor ‘Messi’ All Stars“Master class with Messi” for childrenWheel of Honor and virtual unveiling of the 70-foot statue in Lake TownHyderabadEvening event at Rajiv Gandhi StadiumA short exhibition matchSoccer clinic and congratulationsmumbaiAction at the Wankhede StadiumA 45-minute philanthropic fashion eventPadel Cup at CCIDelhiMeeting with Prime Minister Narendra ModiCongratulations to the Minerva Academy youth teamsCelebrity 9-way match
