Mumbai / New Delhi, India , December 15, 2025 :
Argentine football icon Lionel Messi concluded his much-anticipated G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025 on a celebratory note in Mumbai and New Delhi, drawing massive crowds and reigniting conversations around football’s growing appeal in cricket-dominated India. Despite early organizational hiccups during the Kolkata leg, the tour succeeded in delivering unforgettable moments for fans across multiple cities.
Thousands of supporters gathered at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, chanting Messi’s name and celebrating his presence with chants, banners, and emotional tributes. Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar described Messi’s visit as a “golden moment for Indian sports,” emphasizing the inspirational value of global sporting icons engaging directly with Indian fans.
However, the tour was not without controversy. Olympic gold medalist Abhinav Bindra voiced sharp criticism of the event’s execution and broader priorities. In a social media post, Bindra expressed “quiet sadness”, questioning the wisdom of spending millions for brief celebrity appearances instead of investing in grassroots sports infrastructure, coaching, and athlete development.
The tour’s Kolkata leg was marred by overcrowding, access confusion, and logistical lapses, triggering widespread debate on event management standards in India. Videos of distressed fans and security challenges went viral, prompting organizers to tighten arrangements for subsequent stops.
Originally scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, Messi’s interaction with the Prime Minister was cancelled due to scheduling constraints, according to officials. Earlier in the tour, Messi met young footballers in Hyderabad and also interacted with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, moments that generated significant attention across social media and news platforms.
The tour, organized in association with Inter Miami CF, covered Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, underlining football’s expanding footprint in India. While fans celebrated Messi’s presence, experts say the event has also exposed deeper questions about sports governance, infrastructure readiness, and long-term athlete development.
As the curtains fall on the G.O.A.T. India Tour, it leaves behind a mixed legacy—one of emotional fanfare and inspiration, but also a renewed call for sustainable investment in India’s sporting future.
