Messi is currently making his final public appearance in Delhi during this visit. The G.O.A.T India Tour started with a rough patch at Kolkata, after that Hyderabad and Mumbai hosted Messi beautifully. Before going to Delhi a heavy fog disrupted Messi’s flight and his arrival in the capital city was delayed for a few hours. The adverse conditions made the wait a bit longer for the fans.
Last time when Messi came to India in 2011, he played an international friendly with Venezuela at the Salt Lake stadium but this time he barely played football. A report has come out on this which says Messi’s insurance for his left leg does not cover any injury that occurs outside the USA or during an international match.
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According to a few media reports, Messi has one of the largest insurance of the world which only covers his left foot and was insured for up to 900 million dollars.
Why is Lionel Messi barred from playing any match in India?
Lionel Messi did not play any full football match during his India visit, mainly because of insurance-related risks, not due to fitness or availability issues. One of the key factors behind this decision is the extraordinary value attached to Messi’s body as a professional athlete.
It is believed that Messi has an insurance cover worth around $900 million for his left foot alone, reflecting his status as one of the most valuable footballers in history. This insurance policy is structured to protect him financially in case of a serious or career-threatening injury. However, the coverage applies only to official matches played for his club or national team under recognised football authorities.
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Any extra appearance, such as exhibition matches, promotional games, or special events during international tours like the one in India, is not covered by this insurance.
This is why top global athletes usually limit themselves to short, controlled appearances, ceremonial kick-offs, or fan interaction events during promotional tours rather than competitive play.
As a result, while Messi’s India visit is designed to celebrate football and connect with fans, playing a full match is not possible for Messi.
