The football legend’s highly-anticipated India tour may include a seven-a-side cricket match in Mumbai. Organizers are working to finalize a rare cross-sport encounter that could see Messi bat against cricketing icons like MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli.
August 1, 2025: Indian sports fans are in for a big surprise: football star Lionel Messi is reportedly going to play a seven-a-side cricket match at Mumbai’s famous Wankhede Stadium on December 14. Sources say that a top agency is finalizing the event, which would include the World Cup champion going up against cricketing greats MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli in a unique cross-sport match.
This trip, which everyone has been looking forward to, would be Messi’s first trip to India in 14 years. His three-day trip, which will take place from December 13 to 15, will take him to Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. Messi last came to India in 2011, when he led the Argentina national team in a friendly soccer game against Venezuela in Kolkata.
The revelation comes at a time when people are still talking about the possibility of the Argentina national team playing friendly matches in India. V. Abdurahiman, the Sports Minister of Kerala, has said that they are in talks with the Argentina Football Association to host games in late 2025. However, plans are still up in the air because they are still working out the details of how to make it happen.
Messi is still playing with Inter Miami at the age of 38. His trip to India would be a big deal, marking a career that includes eight Ballon d’Ors, six European Golden Shoes, and a record 45 team medals. He also notably led Argentina to their third World Cup win in 2022, which cemented his place as one of the best athletes ever.