New Delhi: Football legend Lionel Messi will be reaching India on a three-day visit in December, it has been announced. During his stay between December 12 and 15, the Argentina and Inter Miami captain will visit Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Messi is also likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and interact with the Indian football team and top players like Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia. Three GOAT Concerts have also been organised at Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi in his honour.
After landing in Kolkata, the eight time Ballons d’Or winner will unveil a 70-feet statue of his in the city before moving to the iconic Eden Gardens for a GOAT Concert to be followed by the GOAT Cup. This will be a soft-ball, soft-touch seven-a-side game with Sourav Ganguly, John Abraham, Bhaichung and Leander Paes.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, known to be a great fan, will felicitate Messi at Eden Gardens.
On the evening of December 13, he will be reaching Ahmedabad for a private event of the Adani Foundation at their headquarters in Shantigram. The next day Messi will be in Mumbai for a meet-and-greet at CCI at 3.45 pm, followed by the GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at the Wankhede Stadium at 5.30 PM.
Like in Kolkata, Messi is likely to meet Indian greats like M S Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Chhetri and others in Mumbai. Arrangements are being made for his meeting with the Indian football team there.
His tour will end with an interaction with PM Modi on December 15 in Delhi followed by a GOAT Concert and GOAT Cup at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.