Lionel Messi Concludes GOAT India Tour 2025 in Jamnagar
Messi's Memorable Visit to India
On December 16, football icon Lionel Messi wrapped up his visit to Jamnagar, Gujarat, after a stop at Vantara, a wildlife rescue and conservation center, where he was welcomed by Anant Ambani.
Jamnagar served as the final destination of Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, which included stops in four major cities: Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
The tour culminated in Delhi, where fans celebrated the Argentine star's presence, marking a successful conclusion to the four-city journey.
Messi, accompanied by fellow players Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, arrived in the capital on December 15, following engaging events in Mumbai. The Delhi segment featured an exciting celebrity football match at Arun Jaitley Stadium, pitting the Minerva Messi All Stars against the Celebrity Messi All Stars. After the match, Messi interacted briefly with players from both teams.
He also took time to connect with young football enthusiasts, sharing passes with Suarez and De Paul, creating unforgettable memories for the aspiring athletes.
The event concluded with a stage ceremony attended by notable figures, including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Jay Shah, Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Rohan Jaitley, President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association, and former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia.
During the ceremony, Jay Shah gifted specially designed Indian cricket jerseys to Messi, Suarez, and De Paul, along with a commemorative cricket bat signed by legendary Indian cricketers for Messi.
In Mumbai, Messi visited Wankhede Stadium as part of his tour, where he met Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Hyderabad was the second stop on the tour, where fans at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium witnessed Messi participate in a 7-on-7 exhibition match alongside the state's Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, amidst an enthusiastic crowd. He also met Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.
The Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour 2025, however, faced challenges as the event turned chaotic due to the presence of VIPs and politicians, leading to frustration among fans who struggled to see the superstar they had come to watch.