The Return of the Flea to India: Messi on a Unique Tour Between Football and Culture

The Argentine star Lionel Messi announced his upcoming visit to India next December, on a solo tour outside the commitments of his club Inter Miami or the Argentine national team, as part of a charitable campaign to support youth and children.

The visit will be sponsored by a major foundation that has chosen Messi to be its representative in three Indian cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, where the activities will include sports, cultural, and educational events.

Messi posted on his Instagram account: "It is a great honor for me to undertake this trip, India is a very special country and I have beautiful memories of the time I spent there 14 years ago. The fans are amazing, and I look forward to meeting a new generation of fans and sharing my passion for football."

During his tour, Messi will participate in musical concerts, friendly sessions, food festivals, and advanced football lessons, in addition to a padel exhibition at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and a special event at the Salt Lake Stadium. A 25-foot mural will also be unveiled, and the largest statue of him ever will be inaugurated during the Durga Puja celebrations.

Ticket prices for the events are expected to start from 3,500 Indian Rupees. This will be Messi's first visit to India since 2011, when he played a friendly match against Venezuela at the Salt Lake Stadium.