Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri has rejected an offer to meet Lionel Messi during the Argentine's upcoming "GOAT Tour" of India, stating that the event's planning provides no benefit to Indian football, which is currently in a difficult phase.
Messi is scheduled to visit four Indian cities from December 13 to 15, with an itinerary including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. During his trip, he will meet three Chief Ministers, the Prime Minister, and celebrities from various fields. Messi will kick off his India tour by virtually unveiling a 70-foot-tall statue in Kolkata, before flying to Hyderabad for an exhibition match. His Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul will accompany him throughout the tour.
Meanwhile, Chhetri— the fourth-highest goalscorer in his country's national team history—expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of Indian football. He believes that the huge sum of money spent by Indian authorities to invite Messi will not help the development of Indian football.
Messi will not participate in any competitive football matches during the "2025 GOAT India Tour." This commercially organized promotional event starts in Kolkata on Saturday, December 13, and ends in New Delhi on Monday. For a city that once admired Diego Maradona, cheered for Pelé, marveled at Dunga, and applauded Ronaldinho, Messi's arrival is an unmissable occasion.
