Lionel Messi is coming to India for a three-day “GOAT Tour” after leading Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup. He will travel with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
On Saturday in Kolkata, Messi will unveil a 70-foot statue of himself holding the World Cup trophy. A team of 45 workers built the statue in 27 days.
The tour will start in Kolkata at 10:30am local time and then move to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. India has created several attractions for fans, including the “Hola Messi” fan zone.
It features a life-sized Messi statue sitting on a throne, a hall displaying some of his trophies, and a recreation of his Miami home with mannequins of Messi and his family on a balcony.
Messi has scored 787 goals in 963 club matches and has won 44 trophies for club and country. A bronze statue of him already stands in Buenos Aires, unveiled in 2016.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has also said the club is working on a statue for the Nou Camp. In comparison, Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled his own statue in 2014 at his museum in Funchal, Madeira.
Lionel Messi in Kolkata: Shah Rukh Khan Confirms Salt Lake Appearance on December 13
Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has confirmed that he will be present at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata on 13 December.
Kolkata is the first stop on Messi’s GOAT India Tour before he travels to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. SRK, who owns the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders, shared the update on X and said he hopes the day “is completely Messi.”
This will be Messi’s second visit to Kolkata and his first in 14 years. His schedule is packed, starting with a meet-and-greet event, followed by a cultural celebration in his honor and then the statue inauguration.
After these events, he will head to Salt Lake Stadium, the venue where Argentina played against Venezuela during his previous visit.
A 70-foot statue of Messi has been built in Sribhumi (Lake Town) as part of the celebrations. The statue itself is 50 feet tall, rising to 70 feet with the plinth, and is said to be the largest tribute of its kind. Messi is expected to inaugurate it, reportedly through a virtual ceremony due to security reasons.
FAQs
Q. Why is Lionel Messi coming to India?
A. Messi is coming for the three-day GOAT Tour of India 2025 after winning the MLS Cup with Inter Miami.
Q. Which cities will Lionel Messi visit during the GOAT Tour?
A. Lionel Messi will visit Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
Q. Will Shah Rukh Khan meet Messi?
A. Yes, Shah Rukh Khan has confirmed he will be at Salt Lake Stadium during Messi’s visit on December 13.