Lionel Messi Honors PM Modi with Signed World Cup Jersey Ahead of Anticipated India Visit

Bracing for his much-anticipated visit to India later this year, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has sent Prime Minister Narendra Modi a signed jersey from Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph to mark the PM’s 75th birthday.

Promoter Satadru Dutta, who is organising Messi’s upcoming “GOAT Tour of India 2025,” confirmed the gesture on Wednesday.

“When I met him in February to discuss the visit, I had told him that the PM’s 75th birthday is also coming and he said he would send a signed jersey for the Prime Minister,” Dutta told PTI. “The jersey will be delivered in two to three days.”

A landmark visit

Messi is scheduled to arrive in India on December 13, beginning his three-city tour with a stop in Kolkata before travelling to Mumbai and New Delhi. His whirlwind visit will conclude on December 15 with a meeting with Prime Minister Modi at his residence in the national capital, provided the schedule falls into place.

This will be Messi’s first trip to India since 2011, when he led Argentina in a FIFA international friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s iconic Salt Lake Stadium.

Dutta revealed that the groundwork for this tour has been in progress since early this year. He met Messi’s father to present the proposal before holding a 45-minute discussion with the player himself at his residence on February 28. “I am also trying to arrange a meeting with the Prime Minister during Messi’s stay,” he said.

Kolkata, one of the country’s most football-obsessed cities, is expected to set the tone for the tour. Multiple events and fan interactions are lined up, with Mumbai and Delhi hosting the Argentine icon in the following days.

Messi’s arrival will add to the football buzz already building in India. Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman last month confirmed that Argentina, led by manager Lionel Scaloni, will play a friendly in the state in November as part of their preparation tour, with Messi set to feature.

For Indian fans, the twin prospects of seeing the 2022 World Cup winner in competitive action and celebrating his India-wide tour mark a watershed moment. The jersey gift, meanwhile, underscores the respect Messi holds for the Indian Prime Minister, adding an extra layer of anticipation ahead of December.