India is preparing an extraordinary welcome for Lionel Messi, who arrives for a three-day ‘GOAT Tour’ just weeks after guiding Inter Miami to the MLS Cup and another MVP award.
The Argentine icon barely had time to rest, yet the scale of what awaits him is unlike anything seen before.
Messi will travel with Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul as he begins his tour in Kolkata on Saturday, reports Inside World Football.
There, he will unveil a staggering 70-foot statue, constructed in just 27 days by a 45-person crew—an effort that feels more like a national monument than a football tribute.
From Kolkata, the tour will move through Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, cementing India’s reputation as one of the most passionate football regions in the world.
The treatment resembles the hero worship often associated with Cristiano Ronaldo, whose statues and landmarks dominate Madeira.
A Fan Experience Like No Other
Fans will gather at the ‘Hola Messi’ zone, where they can sit beside a life-sized Messi on a throne, walk through trophy-filled halls, and even enter a recreated version of his Miami home.
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The display includes mannequins of Messi and his family on a balcony—an experience that feels surreal yet deeply heartfelt for supporters.
Local fan Shiladitya Banerjee summed up the emotion: “He would be shocked to see how he is worshipped in Kolkata. I am tearing up—these are happy tears.”
Messi already has statues in Buenos Aires, and Barcelona are planning their own tribute. India, however, has gone a step further, turning his visit into something resembling a coronation rather than a mere tour.
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