Argentine superstar Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday (December 13) morning to start the GOAT India Tour 2025.
Messi arrived in India for his second visit, having last played in the country in a friendly match in 2011. Large crowds of fans gathered at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, where tight security arrangements were in place, to catch a glimpse of the football legend.
There’s a great atmosphere of joy that Messi is coming to India after 14 years,” tour organiser Satadru Dutta said.
The much-anticipated tour will kick off on Saturday, where Messi will be seen meeting former India cricketer Sourav Ganguly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.
Messi’s Kolkata schedule began with a private meet-and-greet from 9.30 to 10.30 am, an exclusive window for select guests and organisers. He will then switch online to virtually inaugurate a statue dedicated to him, a gesture marking the city’s deep affection for the World Cup winner.
The Argentine legend is scheduled to take part in a friendly match at Yuva Bharati Stadium, where thousands are expected to pack the stadium. A fan interaction programme at the same venue will close out his Kolkata engagements.
The 2022 World Cup winner will be in Kolkata until 2 pm before he leaves for Hyderabad, where he is scheduled to play a charity match that involves Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
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The GOAT tour will then head to Mumbai, where Messi will again play a charity match and later participate in a fashion event, which will also see him team up with Luis Suarez. The last day of the tour will be in New Delhi as the Argentine will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi before concluding his tour at an event in New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
