Overview

• Messi issued an official statement confirming a Dec 13–15 tour starting in Kolkata and continuing to Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, with multiple outlets reporting a planned meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dec 15.
• Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium is slated to host the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup on Dec 13, where Messi is expected to share the field with Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia and Leander Paes.
• The tour focuses on fan events including concerts, meet‑and‑greets, youth football masterclasses, food festivals and a padel exhibition at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.
• Organisers say tickets are expected to start around Rs 3,500, while security will be coordinated by Messi’s personal team with local authorities and is described as unprecedented.
• The Argentine Football Association lists a Kerala friendly in the Nov 10–18 FIFA window with opponent and venue to be determined, and local sources caution Messi may not feature.