Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour 2025’ starts in Kolkata on December 12, includes events in Mumbai and Delhi, and ends with a meeting with PM Modi on December 15.
Star footballer Lionel Messi's long-awaited visit to India is officially in motion. The Argentina legend will begin three city ‘GOAT tour of India 2025’ on December 12 in Kolkata, as confirmed by event promoter, Satadru Dutta. The trip will end with a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his residence on December 15.
Messi will arrive in Kolkata on December 12. He will be there for two days in one night, marking it to be his longest stay. This will mark the footballers first trip to India since 2011. Messi‘s visit to India will feature a master class with children in each city.
On December 13, he will have a meet and great in the morning at his hotel, Taj Bengal which will feature a special food and tea festival. The menu of the food festival, will include Bengali fishes, including hilsa, and other sweet delicacies.
“All Bengali fish, including hilsa, and sweet delicacies will be there on the platter for the food festival,” Dutta said.
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The highlight of the day will be the unveiling of the biggest statue of Lionel Messi. The statue is 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide and will be kept at strategic Durga Puja Pandal-hopping locations for his fans.
The fans will also get the opportunity to paint and post messages in a nearby message box. After the unveiling of the statue, the mural will be presented to Messi when he is inside the stadium for the GOAT concert.
“Not only will he unveil his biggest-ever statue, we will have a huge mural (dimensions of 25 feet height and 20 feet width) for him, which will be kept at strategic Durga Puja pandal-hopping locations so that all his fans will have an opportunity to paint and post messages in a nearby message box. That mural will be presented to Messi when he’s inside the stadium for the GOAT Concert,” Dutta elaborated.
The concert, originally planned at Eden Gardens also considers Salt Lake Stadium as a backup venue.
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The organizers are expecting a sell-out show. The ticket prices are likely to start at rs. 3,500. Chief minister of Bengal Mamata Banerjee is also expected to felicitate Messi during the program.
Dutta said that the Kolkata police commissioner has assured to make all the arrangements and ensure that there will be no security lapses.
Messi will travel to Ahmedabad on the evening of December 13 to participate in a private event hosted by the Adani foundation.
On December 14, he has a scheduled meet and great at CCI Brabourne, Mumbai followed by a GOAT concert and GOAT cup at Wankhede Stadium.
He will also be seen playing with celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan and Leanne Paes in a special Padel GOAT Cup.
“Messi, being a great fan of the racket sport (typically played in an enclosed arena), will play padel along with celebrities at the CCI Brabourne, Mumbai,” Dutta said.
Reportedly the Maharashtra cricket Association is also planning a 'GOAT moment' pairing Lionel Messi with Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in a GOAT captain’s moment along with Bollywood celebrities such as Aamir Khan and Tiger Shroff .
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Messi will finally meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 15 before the GOAT concert and GOAT cup at Feroz Shah Kotla. Star cricketers, including Virat Kohli and Shubham Gill are also expected to attend the event.
Dutta told PTI that the further details will be posted between August 28 and September 1.
