This trip, which is a mix of football, Indian culture, charity work and seeing famous people, is a significant one for Messi. It will be his second time in India; he first came to Kolkata in (the year) 2011. This time, he is the main focus of a very full schedule designed to celebrate football and connect with his fans in India.
Messi should arrive on December 12th. The tour officially starts on December 13th in Kolkata, and he’ll go to Hyderabad that very evening. He will be in Mumbai on December 14th, and finish his visit in New Delhi on Monday. Because so many people are expected at each place, the organizers have chosen very large stadiums.
Tour at a glance: dates, cities, events
He’s due to land in Kolkata at 1:30 AM on Saturday and go to a hotel on EM Bypass. From 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM he’ll be at a meet-and-greet only for sponsors, and the food will combine Argentine and Indian tastes – think mate tea with the flavour of Assam tea, and popular Bengali foods.
Kolkata: virtual 70-foot statue, fusion food, and a stadium buzz
For security reasons, Messi won’t be physically at the unveiling of what the organizers are calling his biggest statue ever (70 feet tall!) which will be near the clock tower at Sreebhumi. Also, a mural of him that’s 25 feet by 20 feet (made for Durga Puja) will be shown, and fans will be able to write messages on it.
More than 70,000 people are expected at the stadium event in Kolkata (75,000 seats are available). After finishing what he needs to do in the city, Messi will go to Salt Lake Stadium and fly to Hyderabad at about 2 PM to stay on schedule.
Hyderabad is being used instead of a previous plan for Kochi, so the tour will really cover the whole of India. From 7 PM, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal will be the location for the Hyderabad GOAT Cup. This will include a 7 versus 7 game with celebrities, a football "masterclass” for young players who have been selected, penalty kicks, and a live concert.
Hyderabad: GOAT Cup, youth masterclass, and a musical salute
The Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy, will probably be there. The organizers say the event is meant to be both fun and help young players improve, letting them get close to really top footballers.
In Mumbai, the tour begins at 3:30 PM with a Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India. The main event will be at Wankhede Stadium from 5 PM. The most important part of this will be a charity fashion show with Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul on the runway.
Mumbai: Suarez link-up, charity auction, and a philanthropic runway
Luis Suarez is also going to be part of a section of the show with Spanish music. The organizers have asked Messi to bring some special things he won with Argentina at the 2022 World Cup to be sold at a charity auction, so more money can be raised for good causes around the world.
Many important people from sport, businesses, and movies are expected to be there. The fashion show will be about 45 minutes long and is the centre of a night of charity work and getting fans involved.
On Monday in New Delhi, Messi will meet Prime Minister Modi at his house. He will also publicly honour the youth team of Minerva Academy, who won the Gothia Cup, Dana Cup, and Norway Cup, and almost won the Helsinki Cup earlier this year.
Delhi finale: meeting PM Modi and youth team felicitation
There will be a quick game with celebrities in Delhi, finishing the tour with both a formal occasion and a sporting event. The events in Delhi are meant to show off how successful young players are and to give the next group of Indian footballers something to aim for.
Kolkata is getting ready to give Messi a very special welcome; important people and famous sports figures will be at Yuva Bharati. Messi might wear traditional Bengali clothes during the ceremonies, and his family might get local presents, like a sari for Antonella. Hilsa fish and sweets from the area are on the list of things to try.
Culture, community, and security: what else to expect
The organizers say that some of the plans (like revealing the statue) have been changed to be safer. Revealing the statue virtually means fans can still enjoy it without putting security at a real place at risk.
Here’s a quick look at what’s happening in each city:
How fans can plan
Kolkata: Messi will arrive early in the morning, have a sponsor event, unveil the statue virtually, and have a big event at the stadium before leaving at 2 PM.
Hyderabad: The GOAT Cup will be at RGIS in the evening, with a celebrity game and chances for young players.
Mumbai: A Padel Cup at CCI, then a charity fashion night at Wankhede.
Delhi: A meeting with PM Modi, honouring the youth team, and a celebrity game.
With a statue shown on a screen, a chance to see Suarez again, and a visit to a very important person in Delhi, Lionel Messi’s trip to India will have both the excitement of football and do good things for the community. Expect a lot of noise, bright colours and memories that will last a very long time after the final whistle has blown.
