Argentine football icon Lionel Messi will walk the ramp in Mumbai "for a cause" during his India tour with the organisers of his visit requesting him to bring select memorabilia from their 2022 World Cup triumph for an auction.
The sole promoter of the “GOAT (Greatest of All Time) India Tour 2025”, Satadru Dutta, said on Tuesday that Messi, along with long-time strike partner Luis Suarez and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, will feature in a 45-minute fashion segment on the night of December 14. It will be a "philanthropic fashion show for a cause", Dutta said. "It's a fully reserved night. There will be celebrity models, celebrity cricketers, Bollywood celebrities, millionaires, founders, Tiger and Jackie Shroff, John Abraham, among others," he said.
Suarez will also be part of a Spanish music show, while the organisers have "made a formal request" for Messi to bring "some memorabilia of the 2022 World Cup which will be auctioned" during the Mumbai leg of the tour. The Mumbai event starts at 5 pm at Wankhede Stadium, preceded by a Padel Cup at 3.30 pm at Cricket Club of India.
Kolkata leg
In the Kolkata leg, the unveiling of Messi's "biggest ever statue", a 70-feet structure, will be done virtually from his team hotel owing to security concerns. "Police have not given permission, so he will do it from the hotel. It will be done virtually in the morning," said a Kolkata Police officer.
Earlier, Messi was scheduled to visit Sreebhumi in person for the inauguration. He will land in the city at 1.30 am on Saturday. A sponsor-exclusive meet-and-greet programme will run from 9.30 am to 10.30 am. A special Argentine-Indian fusion food festival will be held on the sidelines, keeping in mind Messi's love for “mate” (Argentine herbal tea).
It will showcase Argentine herbal tea infused with Assam flavours, along with a spread of Bengali fish delicacies, including hilsa, and an assortment of local sweets. A 25ft x 20ft Messi mural, planned for the upcoming Durga Puja season, will also be unveiled. The mural will be presented to Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium. A crowd of more than 70,000 is expected for the Kolkata event.
Hyderabad leg
Following the cancellation of his proposed friendly match in Kochi, originally announced by Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman for November 17, the organisers added Hyderabad to create a pan-India tour.
Messi will attend the Hyderabad GOAT Cup at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, from 7 pm, backed by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The Hyderabad programme includes a 7v7 celebrity match, a masterclass for scouted young talents, penalty shootouts and a musical concert celebrating Messi.
Final leg and meeting with PM
Messi will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in New Delhi on Monday. Minerva Academy's youth team, which swept three major European titles earlier this year, will be felicitated in the presence of Messi during the GOAT Tour's New Delhi leg. There will also be a nine-member celebrity match during Messi's visit to the capital.
Also read: Messi-led Argentina to play in Kerala next March, says Minister
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