Lionel Messi is visiting India next month for a four-city tour, marking his return since 2011 when he led Argentina in a friendly against Venezuela. His visit follows his 2022 World Cup victory, enhancing his status as the greatest of all time (GOAT) and serving to inspire young football talent in India.
India has a strong passion for football, evidenced by widespread celebrations when Messi won a coveted trophy. Fans actively support major clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, indicating that football is immensely popular in the country, trailing only behind cricket.
Messi’s arrival in India is a landmark event for the country’s sports, facilitated by Satadru Dutta through his company, A Satadru Dutta Initiative. Dutta, an experienced sports promoter and global event organizer, has successfully brought football legends such as Pele, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldinho to India in the past.
During an interview with The Hindustan Times, Dutta expressed that witnessing Messi win the 2022 World Cup prompted him to facilitate Messi’s appearance in India. Initially, he invited Emiliano Martinez, celebrated for his performances in Qatar, and subsequently contacted Ronaldinho to aid in garnering support for Messi’s visit.
During the 2022 World Cup final, the speaker witnessed Argentina’s victory and resolved to bring Messi to their location, starting with a focus on Emiliano Martínez, whom they believed was pivotal to the win.
In a strategic effort to attract Lionel Messi, I successfully secured Lautaro Martínez within five months, despite initially planning for six. Following this, I identified Ronaldinho as the next key figure close to Messi and recruited him within three months. My directive to both was to provide Messi with a positive impression of our environment, with the ultimate goal being to bring Messi himself to our team.
Dutta highlighted the effort to bring Messi to India, noting that paying tribute during Durga Puja helped establish a connection with Messi’s family. This led to discussions with Jorge Messi about realizing India’s aspiration.
During Durga Puja, Dutta created a large statue of Messi to honor his World Cup win and later connected with Jorge Messi, Messi’s father. Dutta expressed the aspiration for Messi to visit India, highlighting his immense popularity. Jorge acknowledged Messi’s busy schedule and stated that while personal appearances are unlikely, they would consider it due to Dutta’s strong references. The final decision would depend on Messi himself, with Jorge agreeing to arrange a meeting.
He revealed how months of persistence and groundwork finally opened the door to bring Lionel Messi to India. After nearly eight months of planning and preparation, he got the opportunity to meet Messi, share his vision, and that meeting became the turning point that set everything in motion.
After eight months, Dutta met Leo in February 2025, where he presented his plans, particularly a monument, which significantly impacted Leo’s decision. Leo agreed to participate in October after finalizing financial details and suggested Dutta speak with his father for further arrangements.
Persistence is key in life, as highlighted by the speaker’s two-and-a-half-year pursuit of global icons, particularly Messi, who is not motivated by money. The speaker emphasizes that their long-term efforts over 14 years were crucial in this endeavor.
