Messi’s India Tour Stuns Fans With Nearly ₹10-Lakh Price For One Photograph
Messi’s India tour triggers debate as organizers price a single meet-and-greet photo at nearly ₹10 lakh.
Football Icon Lionel Messi is poised to ignite fervour across India with his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, marking his return to the country after a 14-year absence since a 2011 friendly match in Kolkata. Scheduled from December 13 to 15, the three-day extravaganza will span four major cities—Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi—featuring a blend of exhibition matches, celebrity appearances, cultural events, and fan interactions. Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and 2022 FIFA World Cup champion, arrives in Kolkata on Saturday morning at around 10:30 AM local time, landing at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, where he will kick off proceedings with the unveiling of a 70-foot statue and participation in a GOAT Cup exhibition alongside Indian sporting legends like Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Leander Paes. Accompanied by former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, the tour promises a fusion of football, entertainment, and philanthropy, with tickets for public events starting as low as ₹500 via the District app.
The itinerary is meticulously planned to showcase Messi's global appeal while engaging local communities. In Hyderabad later on December 13, Messi will host a football clinic for young players and compete in an exhibition match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, joined by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Mumbai's leg on December 14 highlights include the Padel GOAT Cup at Wankhede Stadium, potentially featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, and a charity fashion show where Messi walks the ramp to raise funds, alongside auctions of 2022 World Cup memorabilia. The tour culminates in New Delhi on December 15 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, where Messi is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, felicitate the Minerva Academy youth team, and participate in a 9v9 celebrity match. Select events will stream live on Prasar Bharati's YouTube channel and the Waves OTT app, amplifying access for fans nationwide.
Amid the excitement, a premium meet-and-greet package has become the tour's most talked-about element, priced at ₹9.95 lakh plus GST—approximately ₹11.7 lakh in total—for a 15-minute session including a handshake, photograph, autographed jersey, and priority access to special events. Limited to just 100 slots, the exclusive opportunity is set at Hyderabad's luxurious Falaknuma Palace, with bookings already live on online platforms. Organisers, led by promoter Satadru Dutta, position it as a once-in-a-lifetime VIP experience, but the steep cost has drawn sharp scrutiny, especially in a nation where Messi's fanbase spans millions yet grapples with economic disparities. This pricing strategy echoes high-profile celebrity endorsements but underscores the commercialisation of sports tourism in emerging markets like India.
Online reactions have been swift and polarised, flooding social media with memes, outrage, and humour as the news broke on December 12. Fans in Hyderabad and beyond expressed fury, with one viral post lamenting, "Rs 10 lakh for a photo? AI se free me banwa lenge" (We'll get it for free with AI), highlighting the absurdity amid accessible deepfake technology. Critics decried it as a "sham" and "loot", accusing organisers of exploiting hero worship through black money influences, while others defended the exclusivity, noting Messi's earnings from such global tours fund his philanthropy. Humorous takes, like suggestions to "generate the selfie with AI and save the cash", have amassed thousands of likes, reflecting a mix of admiration for Messi and scepticism toward the event's commercialisation. As anticipation builds, the debate amplifies the tour's cultural impact, blending unbridled fandom with calls for more inclusive access to sports idols in India.
