Messi’s Pan-India Tour Combines Football, Music, and Cultural Celebrations

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi is set to appear on the Mumbai ramp on December 14 as part of his first India tour since 2011, in a philanthropic fashion show organized for a cause . The event will be held at Wankhede Stadium , starting at 5 PM , and will feature Messi alongside his long-time strike partner Luis Suarez and midfielder Rodrigo De Paul .

The show, lasting 45 minutes , will be attended by celebrity models, Bollywood actors, cricketers, and business leaders , including Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff, and John Abraham . Suarez is also scheduled to perform in a Spanish music show , while a request has been made for Messi to bring select memorabilia from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup victory , which will be auctioned during the event . The ramp show will be preceded by a Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India , beginning at 3:30 PM .

In Kolkata , Messi’s “biggest ever statue,” a 70-feet structure , will be unveiled virtually from his hotel due to security restrictions. The football icon is expected to arrive at 1:30 AM on Saturday and stay at a five-star hotel on EM Bypass . A sponsor-exclusive meet-and-greet will be conducted from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM , followed by his visit to Salt Lake Stadium before departing for Hyderabad at 2 PM .

A fusion Argentine–Indian food festival has been organized, highlighting Argentine mate tea infused with Assam flavors , Bengali fish delicacies, including hilsa, and local sweets. Additionally, a 25ft x 20ft Messi mural will be unveiled, with fans encouraged to post messages and interact with it during Durga Puja celebrations . The mural is scheduled to be presented to Messi at Salt Lake Stadium . More than 70,000 spectators are expected to attend, with counter ticket sales opened due to high demand .

Following the cancellation of a planned friendly match in Kochi, Hyderabad was added as a leg of the tour to ensure a pan-India schedule encompassing Kolkata (East), Hyderabad (South), Mumbai (West), and New Delhi (North) . In Hyderabad, Messi will attend the GOAT Cup at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal , starting at 7 PM , under the support of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy . The program will include a 7v7 celebrity football match, masterclasses for young talents, penalty shootouts, and a musical concert celebrating Messi .

The final leg of the tour in New Delhi will include a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi . Additionally, Minerva Academy’s youth football teams , which won the Gothia Cup, Dana Cup, and Norway Cup , will be felicitated in Messi’s presence. A nine-member celebrity match is also scheduled during the capital visit.

The tour, which received final approval on August 15, 2025 , was confirmed after meetings with Messi and his father/agent earlier this year. Messi’s India visit has been planned to combine sports, cultural celebrations, and philanthropic initiatives , making it a landmark event for fans and football enthusiasts across the country.