The Argentinian football legend and 2022 World Cup winner, Lionel Messi, is all set to visit different cities of India as a part of his ‘GOAT Tour.’ With the speculations of Messi visiting four cities: Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, the fans and football enthusiasts have been searching for when is Messi coming to India. As per the different reports, Lionel Messi will land in Kolkata on December 12 and will conclude his GOAT tour on December 15, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Here is what we know so far about Messi coming to India.
When is Messi Coming to India ? GOAT Tour 2025
Football fans residing in India, get ready for the biggest event in the history of Indian football as the Greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi, is all set to visit India this December as a part of his GOAT Tour. Lionel Messi’s visit to India has been headlining the different media outlets for several months, but the recent X post from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has finally confirmed the GOAT’s visit to India.
Taking to his official X account, CM Devendra Fadnavis wrote, “Guess what!
Lionel Messi is coming to Maharashtra and… will play football with you, my young friends 😊!
Thank you, Messi, for gifting me your personally signed football!
I welcome your forthcoming visit to Mumbai on 14th December 2025, as part of the GOAT Tour!
Under-14 young football players from across Maharashtra will be selected by our Sports Department, #MITRA, and WIFA, and will get to practice with Lionel Messi on 14th December! ⚽️
I invite football fans and the corporates to support our efforts to bring world-class training to Maharashtra’s YOUTH!
@TeamMessi @WIFAOfficial @leomessisite #MessiInIndia #GOATTourIndia”
Guess what!
Lionel Messi is coming to Maharashtra and….
will play football with you, my young friends 😊!Thank you, Messi for gifting me your personally signed football!
I welcome your forthcoming visit to Mumbai on 14th December 2025, as a part GOAT Tour!Under-14 young… pic.twitter.com/YkuicNk4dT
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) September 21, 2025
Along with this, it was also rumored that the 38-year-old eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi had sent his signed 2022 World Cup jersey to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 75th birthday and a signed ball to CM Devendra.
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The football fans are certainly not keeping calm with Messi coming to India since it will be his first trip since 2011, when he visited India with his national team to play a FIFA friendly match with Venezuela, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Dates and Schedule of the GOAT Tour 2025
Along with the query of when is Messi coming to India, millions of football fans in India are curious about his date and schedule, and which cities he will be visiting during his GOAT tour. Messi in India is expected to be a massive event, one for the history books, as most of his fans and followers are from the South Asia region.
Following the confirmation from the promoter Satadru Dutta, the cities for the GOAT Tour have been allocated for Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, beginning from December 12. Despite the cities being allocated for the tour, Messi’s press conference in India time has not been announced yet, but is expected to be announced soon, following the official confirmation from Messi himself.
Here are the key events that are set in different cities for the GOAT tour:
Kolkata Stop: Culture, Music, and Football Fun
Messi will first land in Kolkata on the evening of December 12 and spend two days there, the longest part of his stay in India. His plans for his stay in Kolkata include:
- A meet-and-greet with the fans on the morning of December 13.
- A food and tea festival which was a combination of Argentine mate tea and Indian Assam tea, and traditional Bengali food such as hilsa fish and sweets.
- The unveiling of a Messi statue at Eden Gardens or Salt Lake Stadium.
- The GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup, a seven-a-side exhibition game with Messi and other players such as Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia, Leander Paes, and John Abraham.
- During Durga Puja, a massive 25×20 ft Messi mural will also be unveiled, which will allow the fans to add paint and messages. Messi will be the recipient of the mural once it is finished.
Ahmedabad: Private Adani Event
Lionel Messi in India is not limited only to Kolkata’s events. After the successful conclusion of the Kolkata events on December 13, Messi will then fly to Ahmedabad, where he will participate in a closed event organized by the Adani Foundation. This is an invitation-only event that will involve only chosen guests and sports figures.
Mumbai Stop: Padel Match and Star Power
Messi will visit Mumbai on December 14 to hold a meet-and-greet at the CCI Brabourne Stadium, and then the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup will be held at Wankhede Stadium. One of the highlights will be the Mumbai Padel GOAT Cup, where Messi will take part in a celebrity padel game with greetings from Bollywood stars and sporting legends.
Different celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, and Tiger Shroff are set to be in attendance, as well as cricket legends like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma will make a special appearance in a segment of GOAT Captains.
Lionel Messi is coming to Mumbai on 14th December 2025 as part of the GOAT Tour! 🇮🇳⚽️
On this historic day, Under-14 football talents from across Maharashtra, selected by our Sports Department, #MITRA and WIFA, will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to train and practice with… pic.twitter.com/oYSbcxJQBR
— The Maharashtra Index (@TheMahaIndex) September 22, 2025
Delhi Final: PM Modi Meeting and Farewell
The GOAT Tour is expected to be completed in New Delhi on December 15, where his first stop will be with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his house, and the last destination will be the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at the Feroz Shah Kotla. The Indian cricket superstars, such as Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill (a huge Messi fan), might also be part of the celebration, only a day after their T20I game with South Africa in Dharamsala.
Messi’s Previous Visit to India
While we are busy learning about Messi coming to India in 2025, it should be noted that Messi has already visited India in 2011 when he led Argentina in a FIFA friendly match against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Messi’s visit to India in 2011 was itself an iconic one, as it was his first appearance in the country, which was successful in drawing thousands of crowds on the road. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment for most of the fans to see their favorite football players play in the stadium. During the match, the audience witnessed the global superstar win the match against Venezuela by 1-0, which further escalated the craze for the GOAT.
After a decade, Lionel Messi is visiting India and is expected to be bigger and better than the one he had in 2011.
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Amit Mishra’s Perspective
Indian football fans’ query of when Messi is coming to India seems to be a legitimate one, as the 2022 World Cup winner has one of the largest fan bases in India itself. With over 140 crore population, millions of football fans look up to Messi as an idol and an inspiration to start a career in football.
Messi in India is not just about visiting different cities and attending different events, it will be an inspiration and an opportunity for football enthusiast to meet their idol and learn wisdom from him. On the other hand, his four-day tour to India is expected to be a challenging one since it is certain that a huge number of individuals will come on the road to welcome the football GOAT.
Personally, I cannot wait to see Messi coming to India since the tour will be cemented in the history books as one of the iconic tours that has ever happened.
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FAQs: Messi in India
- When is Messi coming to India?
Lionel Messi will arrive in Kolkata on December 12, 2025, and leave on December 15, 2025, in New Delhi after completing the GOAT Tour. - Where will Messi go on his GOAT Tour of India?
Messi will have a four-city tour in Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, incorporating a mix of cultural events, concerts, and celebrity matches. - What was the case with Messi, who was visiting India in 2011?
In 2011, Messi visited India to lead Argentina in a FIFA friendly with Venezuela in the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. - Will they have a Messi press conference in India?
The Messi press conference India time is yet to be officially declared, but then again, it is likely to be announced soon. - What are the ways through which fans can visit Messi in India?
The price of the GOAT Tour events in Kolkata begins with ₹3,500. The organizers will announce the details of events in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Delhi later on the dates. - Is it possible to purchase a Messi jersey in India at the GOAT Tour?
Yes. Messi jerseys in special editions and signed memorabilia are likely to be sold at the venues and by the official partners of the GOAT Tour 2025 in India.
