Lionel Messi set to visit Kolkata, Mumbai & Delhi in mid-December 2025: Report

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :June 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM

Modified at :June 18, 2025 at 4:55 PM

The Argentine looks set to make his second visit to India.

Indian football fans are in for a historic year with Lionel Messi, the renowned Argentine football player and world superstar, scheduled to visit India in December 2025.

According to reports, Messi will visit three major cities—Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi—between December 13 and 15 for a number of events honouring his remarkable career and dedication to the game.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is anticipated to attend the celebration, which will honor Messi in Kolkata’s famous Eden Gardens, according to a report from Zee 24 Ghanta. Abhishek Banerjee, the youth president of the Trinamool Congress, and Diamond Harbour MP might also attend.

Why is Lionel Messi revisiting India?

Lionel Messi Argentina — **Messi’s first visit to India was in September 2011 (Courtesy: Getty)**

Messi will begin a football camp and lead a children’s football workshop when he is in Kolkata. At Eden Gardens, a seven-a-side competition called the “GOAT Cup” will also be held in his honour.

Lionel Messi may visit the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium or the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium while in Delhi, where he is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reports also suggest that a meeting with cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar is scheduled for the star’s exclusive gathering in Mumbai at Brabourne Stadium. Like Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai, will have youth involvement events and workshops centred around grassroots football.

Lionel Messi will not be visiting India for the first time. Messi, then 24 years old, captained Argentina for the first time in a friendly match against Venezuela at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata in September 2011.

For Indian football fans, the night was unforgettable as Argentina won that game 1-0. Lionel Messi is likely to captain Argentina in their October international friendly encounter in Kerala, which would further heighten the hype.

The match will be a landmark occasion for Indian football as it welcomes the defending world champions once more, even though the opponent and the location have not yet been formally confirmed.

Indian supporters are looking forward to an unprecedented football-filled few months as two significant Messi moments approach.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.