Delhi is the tour’s final destination, where Lionel Messi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Global football star Lionel Messi reached Kolkata on Saturday at 2.26 am and started his magic spell all across the state as thousands of fans flooded multiple roads leading to the airport and the Hyatt Regency hotel to welcome the World Cup winner. His touchdown kick started Messi’s three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour. His busy schedule includes multiple public interactions, high-profile meetings, and football events.
Lionel Messi will begin his day with a closed-door sponsors meet, and then he will be heading to Salt Lake Stadium to meet his frenzied fans. Messi to reach the venue at 10:50 am and will be interacting with multiple players from the Mohun Bagan ‘Messi’ All Stars and Diamond Harbour ‘Messi’ All Stars, they are also set to play a special exhibition match. A felicitation ceremony of Bengal’s Santosh Trophy-winning team is also included along with a meet-and-greet session with future footballers from across the state called “Master Class with Messi”.
Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul and famous Barcelona strike partner Luis Suárez, along with actor Shah Rukh Khan, will be part of the event. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several other dignitaries are expected to attend the event. Messi is set to take a lap of honour at the iconic stadium before virtually unveiling a 70-foot statue of himself at Lake Town, this unique tribute has already become a hot topic around the city.
Later in the afternoon, at 2.05 pm, Lionel Messi will fly to Hyderabad for the second leg of the day. He will attend several programs, comprising of short exhibition match and, a football clinic for children and a felicitation ceremony at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is set to make a brief appearance at the event.
The next stop of the tour will be at Mumbai, where the ace football star will attend multiple events at the famous Wankhede Stadium. The Mumbai leg will feature a philanthropic fashion showcase with Lionel Messi, Suárez, and De Paul, followed by a Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India. The event promises to blend sport, charity, and celebrity glamour.
Delhi is the tour’s final destination, where Lionel Messi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The concluding events will include a felicitation ceremony for Minerva Academy’s triple youth-trophy-winning teams, followed by a nine-a-side celebrity football match.
The sole promoter of the tour, Satadru Dutta, who greeted Messi at the airport early Saturday, described the visit as a landmark moment for Kolkata and Indian football. He reflected on Messi’s previous visit in 2011 but emphasized that this appearance holds greater significance, as it comes after Messi’s World Cup win and his eighth Ballon d’Or, making it truly special. Dutta expressed doubt that Messi would visit India again, calling this trip a celebration of his legacy. He also highlighted the unprecedented level of sponsorship and corporate interest surrounding the tour, which could have lasting benefits for Indian football. Dutta believes that even a small portion of the investment generated by Messi’s visit could greatly support grassroots development, infrastructure, and youth programs, providing Indian football with a rare opportunity for global exposure and momentum.
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