New Delhi hosted the grand finale of Lionel Messi’s “G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025” on December 15, bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth and successful closure amid immense fan enthusiasm. Marking Messi’s second visit to India, the tour was spearheaded by leading Indian sports promoter Satadru Dutta through his company, A Satadru Dutta Initiative, with a focus on inspiring young footballers and reinforcing India’s emergence as a destination for global sporting events.
Messi arrived in the National Capital on December 15 following successful engagements in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai, and the Delhi leg served as the culmination of the tour. The on-field programme at the Arun Jaitley Stadium featured a celebrity football match between the Minerva Messi All Stars and the Celebrity Messi All Stars. Following the match, Lionel Messi stepped onto the field for a brief interaction with players from both teams. He later engaged with young footballers, sharing a few passes alongside Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, offering a memorable experience for the aspiring talents.
The event culminated in a stage ceremony attended by Honourable Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Rekha Gupta and other distinguished dignitaries, including Mr. Jay Shah, Chairman – International Cricket Council (ICC), Mr. Rohan Jaitley, President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association and former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia. During the ceremony, Mr. Jay Shah presented specially curated Indian cricket jerseys to Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, followed by the presentation of a commemorative cricket bat signed by legendary Indian cricketers to Messi.
Highlighting India’s growing presence in youth football, the FIFA World Cup winner also felicitated the Minerva Academy Under-14 team from Punjab, which made history earlier this year by winning three of Europe’s premier youth tournaments—the Gothia Cup (Sweden), Dana Cup (Denmark) and Norway Cup (Norway).
Over the past decade, Satadru Dutta has been instrumental in bringing some of the world’s most celebrated football icons to India, including Pelé, Diego Maradona, Cafu, Emi Martinez, Ronaldinho and Brazil’s 1994 FIFA World Cup–winning team. Supported by initiatives such as Edu Soccer, the G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025 reinforced his broader mission of blending large-format sporting entertainment with long-term football development. While privately organised, the tour contributed to renewed nationwide excitement around the sport and grassroots engagement.
