Former AIFF President Praful Patel opens up on Lionel Messi's visit, future of Indian football & more

The former AIFF President spoke about his meeting with Lionel Messi.

Former All India Football Federation president and FIFA Council member Praful Patel has defended the recently concluded GOAT India Tour 2025, describing it as a “once-in-a-lifetime” moment that inspired millions. Patel also reiterated his belief that Indian football is on the threshold of long-term growth despite recent challenges including the MRA stall.

Speaking to NDTV, Praful Patel reflected on meeting the Argentine great during the visit, images of which went viral on social media. While describing Messi as one of the most “magical figures in world sport”, Patel said the World Cup winner’s presence in India had a powerful impact, particularly on young fans.

Praful Patel recalls previous visit and talks about VIP culture

He recalled that Messi had previously visited India in 2011 for an official FIFA friendly in Kolkata, when Salt Lake Stadium was packed with nearly 80,000 spectators. Patel said the current visit carried even greater resonance following Messi’s World Cup triumph in Qatar, which he witnessed in person.

Addressing criticism that the Tour highlighted VIP culture over fan access, Praful Patel defended the structure of the visit, arguing, “No, let me tell you, whatever the fan engagement was there, nobody has interfered in that time…And obviously he has, there are people who sponsored his visit. They need to be given the chance to meet him. After all, such high profile visits don’t come without some cost. And somebody has to bear the cost.”

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Lionel Messi had a special present for PM Modi

Patel also revealed that Messi had been willing, at his request, to meet the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including gifting a signed jersey for the his 75th birthday. While scheduling conflicts prevented the meeting, Praful Patel maintained that the frenzy surrounding Messi’s visit demonstrated football’s unmatched ability to inspire across age groups and regions.

He noted that fans travelled across the country to catch a glimpse of the Argentine, underscoring the sport’s emotional pull in India. “I think his coming to India, maybe whatever the, you know, the other considerations, but the fact of the matter is he went, he came, he conquered and he went. And he conquered the hearts of not only the people of India, but especially football lovers of India. So that’s a big thing. You see, these kind of visits don’t happen every day.”

Patel remains optimistic about Indian football

While talking to the state of Indian football, Praful Patel acknowledged concerns over the national team’s declining FIFA ranking, which currently stands at 142, down from a historic high of 93 achieved during his tenure. The former AIFF President stopped short of blaming current administrators, but emphasized the need to improve on-field performance to sustain public interest in domestic competitions such as the Indian Super League and I-League.

Patel highlighted structural efforts made during his time at the helm, including the launch of the ISL, hosting FIFA Under-17 World Cups for boys and girls, and collaborating with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation despite limited resources. He credited corporate partners for absorbing financial losses to support the sport and pointed to grassroots initiatives, including long-term youth development programs, as essential to future success.

Despite the current uncertainty surrounding Indian football, Praful Patel struck an optimistic tone in his look at the future of Indian football. Patel believes India’s size, passion and commercial potential make it a country the global football ecosystem wants to see succeed. He also stressed that sustained effort, investment and patience are required to turn inspiration into lasting progress.

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