Lionel Messi confirms India visit: ‘Have good memories from my time there 14 years ago’

[Hitman]

Lionel Messi has confirmed his visit to India, stating that it is an “honour” to revisit the “passionate football nation” country where he last played 14 years ago. Messi will embark on a four-city tour of India starting at Kolkata on December 12. He will then fly to Ahmedabad, followed by Mumbai and then Delhi on December where he is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is such an honour for me to make this trip. India is a very special country, and I have good memories from my time there 14 years ago — the fans were fantastic. India is a passionate football nation, and I look forward to meeting a new generation of fans while sharing the love I have for this beautiful game,” Messi said in an official statement.

Organiser Satadru Dutta had already unveiled the itinerary on August 15, and Messi’s statement on Thursday marked the first time the football great himself confirmed the visit.

After landing in Kolkata on December 12, the next day Messi will attend the unveiling of a statue of his followed by a ‘GOAT Concert’ and ‘GOAT Cup’. The GOAT Cup will be a celebratory seven-a-side soft-touch football match, with Messi teaming up alongside Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, John Abraham and Bhaichung Bhutia. Tickets are likely to start at Rs 3,500 and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to felicitate Messi during the programme.

This will be followed by a flight to Ahmedabad on the evening of December 13, where Dutta says Messi will be attending a private event with some of his sponsors. Messi then moves to Mumbai on December 14. Messi will be in Delhi on December 15, where he will have another GOAT Concert at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Dutta also said that Messi will be meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We will seek an appointment from the Prime Minister,” Dutta said.

The visit this year won’t be Messi’s first trip to India. That was made in 2011, when he played a friendly against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. That also happened to be Messi’s first match as Argentina captain.

Even as Messi prepares for his December commitments, the Argentina national football team has included India in its schedule for a November FIFA international window.

The Lionel Scaloni-coached world champions are set to play a friendly in Kerala between November 10-18, though the opponents and venue are yet to be finalised.

If that visit goes ahead, it could mean Messi making two trips to India within two months. However, it remains to be seen whether the 38-year-old forward will feature in the Kerala match.

“I will be surprised if the legendary footballer comes twice in a month. However, it is most likely that the Argentina team minus Messi may come to play in Kerala,” a source in the state said.

The November friendly will be part of three games during the window, with the other two scheduled in Angola.

“The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendly windows in the remainder of 2025,” the AFA had said in its statement.

“The first, in October, from the 6th to the 14th, will be played in the United States (opponents and cities to be determined). The second, from the 10th to the 18th of November, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India (opponents to be determined),” it added.

Messi, an Olympic gold medallist and 2022 World Cup-winning captain, continues to attract unprecedented fanfare worldwide, and his December tour is expected to be one of the biggest football-related events ever staged in India.

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Link: https://indianexpress.com/article/s...ies-from-my-time-there-14-years-ago-10284156/​

 

[DeadlyVenom]

That will be brilliant for Indian football fans.

Also cool that he will be playing football alongside Ganguly.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

What is the purpose of this visit? I can see there are sponsors involved, but on who's behalf? Is it Messi himself, or some Indian business interest?

 

[Rajdeep]

What is the purpose of this visit? I can see there are sponsors involved, but on who's behalf? Is it Messi himself, or some Indian business interest?

Messi loves India and he has said it multiple times. He loves the Sanatani saknskar and their upbringings. So he is visiting on his personal capacity and to see football grows in India.

You seem to be upset with his visit. Dont worry, one day he will also visit Lahore, Karachi, Rochdale, Rawalpindi etc.

 

[Ball Blazer]

We love this country, we love that country - nice trick by celebrities to gain fan and followers from that respective country

 

[Rajdeep]

Pele, Maradona, Messi...all have come to India.

These Brazilians and Argentinians just love us Bharatiyas.

Maybe India can organize one Brazil vs Argentina match in New Delhi. Now that will be real El Classico.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Messi loves India and he has said it multiple times. He loves the Sanatani saknskar and their upbringings. So he is visiting on his personal capacity and to see football grows in India.

You seem to be upset with his visit. Dont worry, one day he will also visit Lahore, Karachi, Rochdale, Rawalpindi etc.

Did you even read what I said before quoting me? What in that post would make you think I am upset about his visit?

I only asked the purpose of his visit, and who the sponsors were. If he loves Sanatani sanskar then he could just go to India for a holiday, no need for any sponsors right?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

We love this country, we love that country - nice trick by celebrities to gain fan and followers from that respective country

India is a huge market to be fair, it would make sense to cash in. Pakistani artists were doing the same until a furious Modi banned them.

 

[RexRex]

What is the purpose of this visit? I can see there are sponsors involved, but on who's behalf? Is it Messi himself, or some Indian business interest?

I doubt it is for the money given that he's already a billionaire. He's likely doing a favour for an indian business friend or he is coming as a FIFA goodwill ambassador to inspire the young footie kids in Bengal. Credit to him if it is the latter.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I doubt it is for the money given that he's already a billionaire. He's likely doing a favour for an indian business friend or he is coming as a FIFA goodwill ambassador to inspire the young footie kids in Bengal. Credit to him if it is the latter.

Could be, although none of that is mentioned in the OP article. Only that Messi is attending the event with some of his sponsors. So there is definitely money involved.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Money is alwayssss involved.

 

[HalBass9]

Most Indians want to leave India. The ones who already left now throwing confetti because a celebrity is visiting, flying in for 48 hours of royal treatment, luxury cars, 7 star suites, gourmet butter chicken, and a fat check to say, India is magical.

It’s amazing how fast let’s escape turns into OMG someone’s visiting the place we escaped.

Desis might just be the only people who flee a party, then scream with joy when someone else shows up.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Lots of doom and gloom over what is nice news.

As a Pakistani I'd be quite pleased if Messi went to Pakistan to have a kick about.

Pakistanis should be asking themselves why no major celebrity or sports person wants to visit the country ( money or not).

 

[sweep_shot]

@Rana you were right about this group.

The way you freshies are chest thumping about some celebrity coming to your country is so cringe.

I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a temple merely for worshipping him.

 

[RidiculousMan]

What is the purpose of this visit? I can see there are sponsors involved, but on who's behalf? Is it Messi himself, or some Indian business interest?

Business and investment reasons too.

India is a growing economy and becoming a bigger market in the world slowly. Every investor would want to dip their toes in it just in case a future opportunity arises to make money.

 

[The_KING]

Who cares? Why is it some sort of an achievement if a celebrity visits your country? Indians are so cringe.

 

[psyoptica]

No need to get salty. I don’t see anything here that equates to chest thumping. Passing snarky remarks because some Indians are rejoicing a global icon visiting their Country makes YOU look cringe not them.

 

[RexRex]

Most Indians want to leave India. The ones who already left now throwing confetti because a celebrity is visiting, flying in for 48 hours of royal treatment, luxury cars, 7 star suites, gourmet butter chicken, and a fat check to say, India is magical.

It’s amazing how fast let’s escape turns into OMG someone’s visiting the place we escaped.

Desis might just be the only people who flee a party, then scream with joy when someone else shows up.

What's wrong with Indians getting excited to see the greatest fotballer on the planet in person and feeding him some 7-star butter chicken ?

Are you some kind of robot with no emotions ?

 

[Rajdeep]

Most Indians want to leave India. The ones who already left now throwing confetti because a celebrity is visiting, flying in for 48 hours of royal treatment, luxury cars, 7 star suites, gourmet butter chicken, and a fat check to say, India is magical.

It’s amazing how fast let’s escape turns into OMG someone’s visiting the place we escaped.

Desis might just be the only people who flee a party, then scream with joy when someone else shows up.

This guy....I tell you.

 

[HalBass9]

What's wrong with Indians getting excited to see the greatest fotballer on the planet in person and feeding him some 7-star butter chicken ?

Are you some kind of robot with no emotions ?

I'd be excited to see meet him in person.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Business and investment reasons too.

India is a growing economy and becoming a bigger market in the world slowly. Every investor would want to dip their toes in it just in case a future opportunity arises to make money.

It's a population of over a billion people right? Even if only a small percentage of that is well off that's still a huge market. The English Premier League is probably already a big earner over there, it makes sense to try and get a foothold in the fanbase, especially as it is only likely to get bigger.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Most Indians want to leave India. The ones who already left now throwing confetti because a celebrity is visiting, flying in for 48 hours of royal treatment, luxury cars, 7 star suites, gourmet butter chicken, and a fat check to say, India is magical.

It’s amazing how fast let’s escape turns into OMG someone’s visiting the place we escaped.

Desis might just be the only people who flee a party, then scream with joy when someone else shows up.

Lol messi would love such presidential treatment

 

[RidiculousMan]

It's a population of over a billion people right? Even if only a small percentage of that is well off that's still a huge market. The English Premier League is probably already a big earner over there, it makes sense to try and get a foothold in the fanbase, especially as it is only likely to get bigger.

Precisely. Whether the world likes it or not. Slowly the average consumer there is getting more money on hands and with the awareness of technology and internet access. People will tune into global sports and pop culture.

 

[JaDed]

Messi gets sellout events and games in US too, if many Indian football fans are excited to see absolutely nothing wrong. I would had loved to go a Nelson Mandela event or Jon Stewart one,to each their own.

 

[Mamoon]

“We will seek an appointment from the Prime Minister,” Dutta said.



Oh please. Messi is way bigger and more important than Modi. Modi will be the one seeking an appointment.