India Tour Gets Pan-India Reach
Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated ‘GOAT Tour to India 2025’ has undergone a significant revision, with Hyderabad officially confirmed as the new southern stop. This change was made following the cancellation of the proposed friendly match in Kochi, Kerala, which was originally slated for November 17. The revised itinerary ensures the tour now spans all four corners of India—East (Kolkata), South (Hyderabad), West (Mumbai), and North (New Delhi)—transforming it into one of the country’s most ambitious sporting spectacles.
Why Hyderabad Was Chosen
Satadru Dutta, the sole organiser of the tour, confirmed that the primary goal of adding Hyderabad was to ensure that football fans in the South, particularly those in Kerala and Chennai, are not “deprived” of the Messi experience after the Kochi cancellation. Hyderabad was deemed a natural and centrally located choice with a massive fan base. The Ahmedabad leg has been dropped and replaced by Hyderabad, with the sponsors’ event being shifted to Mumbai.
Revised Tour Itinerary
The Argentine superstar, joined by teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, will commence his Indian tour in mid-December. The itinerary is packed with events, including celebrity football matches, meet-and-greet sessions, and musical programmes.
| Date | City | Key Events & Venue Details |
| Dec 12-13 | Kolkata | Arrival, Meet and Greet, GOAT Cup at Salt Lake Stadium, Statue Unveiling. |
| Dec 13 | Hyderabad | Meet and Greet, GOAT Cup at either Gachibowli or Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, featuring South Indian superstars. |
| Dec 14 | Mumbai | Padel GOAT Cup inauguration, GOAT Cup at Wankhede Stadium. |
| Dec 15 | New Delhi | Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, GOAT Cup at Arun Jaitley Stadium. |
Huge Fan Response and Ticket Sales
The response to the tour has been massive across all venues. Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, with 28,000 seats, is reportedly sold out. Kolkata’s 68,000-capacity stadium is nearing full occupancy, and the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi is also close to being sold out. The organiser promised that the Hyderabad event will be a grand celebration, designed to showcase the passion of South Indian fans.
