Football legend Lionel Messi received a grand welcome as he arrived in Kolkata, drawing thousands of enthusiastic fans. In a highlight event in the morning, Messi unveiled a 70-foot-tall statue of himself, created by the Kolkata Sreebhumi Sporting Club. Reception programs were also held at Salt Lake Stadium, where Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan joined Messi for the celebrations. After unveiling the statue, Messi expressed his happiness at being in India.
The visit, called the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’, is organised by sports promoter and business consultant Shatadru Dutta. Fans across India now have the chance to see the football icon in person. Messi and his team will spend three days in the country, visiting four cities including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. The 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning captain of Argentina and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
Tickets for public events featuring Messi are priced between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Jackie Shroff, and John Abraham are also scheduled to attend various events during the tour. Messi will return to Hyderabad on Saturday, participate in events in Mumbai on Sunday, and reach Delhi on Monday to attend a program with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before flying back to Dubai that afternoon.
