Top five highlights from Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025

Lionel Messi was the name on every football fan’s mind.

The beginning of the much-anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025 generated immense excitement, mixed reactions and unforgettable moments over the three day tour. Fans across four Indian cities of Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi were given the unique opportunity of hosting the World Cup winner and breathe the same air as their GOAT.

From chaotic beginnings to heart-warming encounters with sporting legends, the tour offered a complex snapshot of football’s growing footprint in India, while highlighting the work that still remains internally.

Lionel #Messi leaves a heartwarming message for the fans with a video compiling moments! 🗣️ Messi: "What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football… pic.twitter.com/k75GXJQtO4

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) December 17, 2025

Let us look at the top five highlights from the GOAT India Tour 2025 featuring Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul:

5. Turbulent start in Kolkata sparks outrage

The tour’s opening stop at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium was intended as a grand celebration of Messi’s arrival but instead became one of its most infamous moments which left a bitter taste. Fans who had paid for tickets were left frustrated after Lionel Messi’s appearance lasted only about 10 minutes, with many unable to see the football icon clearly as he was surrounded by officials and VIPs.

The disappointment quickly escalated into unrest, with spectators throwing bottles and chairs and damaging parts of the stadium. Organisers were accused of mismanagement, and authorities detained an event organiser amid the fallout. The episode overshadowed expectations in one of India’s most football-passionate cities.

4. Hyderabad embraces Lionel Messi with football passion

Following the Kolkata fiasco, the Hyderabad leg of the tour provided a marked contrast. Messi’s visit to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was structured around fan engagement, with the Argentine and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul interacting with supporters and young footballers.

Local political figures, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, joined moments of the event and shared the pitch with Lionel Messi in a light-hearted display of unity through sport. Fans echoed chants of “Messi, Messi” as they soaked in the experience, underscoring that despite earlier troubles, the tour could still deliver memorable football-centric moments.

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3. Mumbai’s star-studded night with Indian sporting icons

In Mumbai, the tour hit its emotional stride. The Wankhede Stadium, typically known as the home of Indian cricket, was awash with football fever as Messi met two of India’s biggest sports figures: cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri.

Tendulkar and Messi exchanged gifts, with Tendulkar presenting his iconic No. 10 Indian jersey and Messi returning a signed football. Messi also presented Chhetri with an Argentina jersey in a unique footballing crossover never-before-foreseen by footballing fans in India. The cross-sport camaraderie while the crowd chanted Messi’s name highlighted a rare moment where cricket and football celebrated together under one roof.

2. Emotional connections and symbolic gestures

Beyond organised events, several small but significant gestures resonated with footballing fans who paid their hard-earned money to be in numbers at the stadiums. Lionel Messi getting photographed holding the Indian flag alongside cricket great Sachin Tendulkar was the highlight moment among several other moments that captivated supporters nationwide both in-person and the streaming platforms.

Messi’s interactions with children, young footballers and local legends struck a chord on social media, reflecting genuine warmth and admiration beyond formal programmes. These interactions helped balance out earlier criticism of limited public access and showcased just how much fans respect not just Messi but also Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.

1. Messi’s heartfelt message in Delhi and promise to return

The tour culminated in Delhi with Messi delivering the most memorable message of all to his adoring fans. Standing before thousands who assembled to catch a glimpse of Messi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Argentine thanked Indian fans for their overwhelming affection throughout the tour and acknowledged that while the visit had been “short and intense,” he described the Tour as being “truly beautiful.”

Most importantly, Lionel Messi promised that he and his team would return in the near future, expressing hope of one day even playing a match in India. The emotional speech sprinkled with gratitude and a promise of future engagement, capping off a tour that, despite its ups and downs, left a lasting impact on Indian football supporters.

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