Lionel Messi has officially announced his long-awaited return to India in December, his first visit in 14 years. The football icon will tour four cities of Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi from December 12 to 15, per Indian Express.
Messi, who last appeared in Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium in 2011 during a friendly with Venezuela - his inaugural game as captain of Argentina, spoke of his thrill in a statement. “I’m truly excited to be visiting such a beautiful country as India this December. It will be a pleasure to attend concerts, youth football clinics, a paddle cup and launch charitable initiatives during events at iconic stadiums in Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, and maybe one more city…these tickets will be available exclusively on the District app. It will also be an honour to be able to interact and meet with India’s biggest stars and top dignitaries”, Messi wrote in a Facebook post.
The four-city GOAT tour:
Messi will set out on a four-city tour starting from Kolkata on December 12. He will then fly to Ahmedabad, followed by Mumbai and then Delhi in December where he is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as Indian Express reported. The tour will begin in Kolkata on December 13 with the "GOAT Concert" and "GOAT Cup" at the Salt Lake Stadium where CM Mamata Banerjee is expected to felicitate Messi during the programme. Messi will also join Indian sporting legends Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Leander Paes on the same field. Ahmedabad will also have a private sponsor event on the next evening, before the tour proceeds to Mumbai on December 14 for the "Padel GOAT Cup," which is expected to attract celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, and MS Dhoni. The last leg will be in Delhi on December 15 with another GOAT Concert at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, followed by an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Express stated.
Special attraction for fans
Organizers have also planned a 25-foot-high mural and Messi’s largest-ever statue to be unveiled as part of Kolkata’s Durga Puja festivities. Tickets for events across the tour are expected to start at Rs 3,500, available exclusively through the District app. Messi’s December tour is set to be one of the biggest football-related events in India, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness the GOAT up close