- Messi, fresh from leading Inter Miami to an MLS Cup, will visit Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi
- A 70-foot statue of Messi, built over 27 days by 45 workers, will be unveiled in Kolkata
- The “Hola Messi” fan zone features a life-sized Messi on a throne, his trophies, and a replica of his Miami home
The debate over football’s greatest player of all time (GOAT) spans generations—but India has made its choice.
Fresh off leading Inter Miami to a historic MLS Cup, Lionel Messi is set to visit India for a three-day “GOAT Tour.”
Accompanied by teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will unveil a colossal statue of himself in Kolkata on Saturday.
Constructed over 27 days by a team of 45 workers, the 70-foot statue is a monumental tribute to the football legend.
The tour kicks off in Kolkata at 10:30 a.m. local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday and will continue to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
The statue is just one part of India’s homage to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star. Fans can also explore the “Hola Messi” fan zone, featuring a life-sized Messi seated on a throne, a hall displaying some of his trophies, and a replica of his Miami home with mannequins of Messi and his family on a balcony.
“He would be surprised to see the arrangements made for him,” said Messi fan Shiladitya Banerjee. “He would be shocked to see how he is celebrated in Kolkata and across India. I am tearing up, but these are happy tears.”
Messi, who has scored 787 goals in 963 club appearances, was previously honoured with a bronze statue in Buenos Aires in 2016. Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently confirmed that plans for a statue at the Nou Camp are underway.
In 2014, long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo unveiled a statue of himself at his personal museum in Funchal, Madeira.
