New Delhi, Oct 2
As Lionel Messi's much-anticipated visit to India as part of the "GOAT Tour of India 2025 is confirmed, with the three-city tour set to kick off on December 13, the Argentine star recalled his last visit to the country 14 years ago and said he has "good memories of a very special country".
The three-day tour from December 13 to 15 will feature Messi's appearances in Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi, with a fourth city to be announced, tour's event manager said.
This will be the Argentine great's first trip to India since 2011 when he visited the country with his national team to play a FIFA friendly against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium here.
"India is a very special country, and I have good memories from my time there 14 years ago," Messi said. "The fans were fantastic. I look forward to meeting a new generation of supporters and sharing my love for this beautiful game."
The highlights of the tour include stadium events at Salt Lake Stadium, Wankhede Stadium, and Arun Jaitley Stadium, as well as special celebrations such as a statue unveiling in Kolkata and the launch of a new charitable initiative.
Messi is also scheduled to meet local sports and entertainment figures and dignitaries and state leaders from West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Delhi.
Prior to his three-city tour, Messi-led Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad are set to play in Kochi this November.
The November fixtures will be part of three matches scheduled during the FIFA international window, with the other two games to be played in Luanda, Angola.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's heartwarming that Messi remembers India fondly after 14 years! Shows how much our fans made an impact. Hope the ticket prices are reasonable so more people can experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
While I'm excited about Messi's visit, I hope the organizers ensure better crowd management this time. The 2011 event had some safety issues. Let's make this a memorable and safe experience for everyone.
As someone who's lived in India for 5 years, I love how sports bridges cultures. Messi's charitable initiative is particularly commendable. Hope this inspires more young Indian footballers! ⚽✨
Kolkata getting a Messi statue! What an honor for our city. The football culture here is unmatched in India. Can't wait to see the GOAT at Salt Lake Stadium again! ðŸ†
Interesting that he's visiting three major cities. Hope they include some smaller cities too in the fourth announcement. Football fans across India deserve to see legends like Messi.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.