Lionel Messi’s India tour began in Kolkata on Friday, and on the very first day the spotlight was firmly on the meeting between Messi and Shah Rukh Khan. Images and videos of the two global superstars from completely different worlds went viral on social media within moments.
At a closed-door event, Messi was joined by Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. In the presence of guests and organizers, they exchanged warm greetings with Shah Rukh Khan. This meeting became one of the major highlights of the first day of Messi’s “GOAT India Tour 2025.”
Messi’s schedule in Kolkata includes several events, and a large crowd of fans has been visible since morning. To mark the occasion, a 70-foot iron statue of Messi has been installed near the Salt Lake Stadium. Fans began gathering early in the day to see the statue, which Messi has already inaugurated.
Due to security and organizational reasons, Messi did not inaugurate the statue in person. According to the organizers, the inauguration was conducted virtually. Events around the statue are ongoing, with fan attendance continuing to grow.
This is Messi’s first visit to India in more than a decade. The World Cup–winning captain will travel to several other cities after Kolkata. Excitement among football fans across the country has reached a peak around this tour.
After completing his program at the Salt Lake Stadium, Messi headed to the airport. He was scheduled to fly to Hyderabad at 2:00 pm, where he is set to appear at an exhibition match at Uppal Stadium at 7:00 pm. A cultural program is also planned there in the presence of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
On December 14, Messi will attend a celebrity football match, an event at Wankhede Stadium, and a charity fashion show in Mumbai. On December 15, he is expected to meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, although this has not yet been finalized. Messi’s India tour will conclude with an event at Arun Jaitley Stadium and a reception for players of the Minerva Academy.
