Courtesy: Google
Argentina legend Lionel Messi will visit India after 14 years with a report claiming that the star player is set to make his presence felt in Kolkata this December once again. Messi will be visiting Kolkata for the second time in his career. Back in September 2011, he began his Argentina’s captaincy stint at the Salt Lake’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. In the game against Venezuela, Messi and his boys bagged a 1-0 triumph as in the 70th minute, defender Nicolas Otamendi stepped up and scored a goal with a header.
In 2014, Messi recounted his Kolkata memories during an interview. "The last time I stepped into India, I was overwhelmed with the warmth and passion this country showered on me. India left its famously lasting impression and with that lingering memory, my family and I have always wanted to develop an association with that country," said Messi in the interview in 2014.
As per The Telegraph report, Messi will visit three metropolitan cities Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, where he will meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In Kolkata, he will be felicitated by West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee at the iconic Eden Gardens. To honour him, a seven-a-side tournament “Goat Cup” will be conducted at the iconic stadium in Kolkata. Messi won’t be playing a professional match, but spectators will see him in action displaying his penalty shooting skills.
Eminent personalities to join Lionel Messi in the Mumbai event
In Mumbai, Brabourne Stadium will host the veteran footballer. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar and several renowned Bollywood actors will join Lionel Messi and the Bollywood actors will be seen playing a football game in the presence of the 37-year-old.
In Delhi, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium or Arun Jaitley Stadium can be given the opportunity to host the football maestro. Amidst these developments, there are also reports that the Kerala government has invited Lionel Messi to play an exhibition game donning the captain’s armband in October 2025.
