Will Virat Kohli meet Lionel Messi? Cricketer arrives in Mumbai with Anushka Sharma amid GOAT tour

India’s batting great Virat Kohli has returned to the country from London, landing in Mumbai on Saturday along with his wife, actor Anushka Sharma. Photos and videos of the couple at Mumbai’s Kalina airport quickly spread across social media, triggering widespread speculation among fans about a possible meeting with football legend Lionel Messi, who is currently in India on a three-day tour.

Kohli, who has been based in London in recent months, had flown out of India after the conclusion of the national team’s three-match ODI series against South Africa earlier this month. His sudden arrival, coinciding with Messi’s visit, has only added fuel to online chatter.

Social media buzz over Kohli–Messi link-up

Soon after images of Kohli and Anushka surfaced, fans began drawing connections between the timing of the cricketer’s return and Messi’s presence in the country. While there has been no official confirmation of any planned interaction, the possibility of two global sporting icons crossing paths has captured public imagination.

Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, arrived in India on Saturday as part of a multi-city tour that includes Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.

Messi’s Kolkata visit ends in chaos

Messi’s much-anticipated stop at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium earlier in the day descended into controversy after what was meant to be a celebratory appearance was cut short to just over 20 minutes. The Argentine star’s visit, which also featured Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, was marred by severe crowd management failures.

More than 50,000 spectators packed the stadium, many paying between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 for tickets, with some reportedly shelling out as much as Rs 20,000 on the black market. After Messi briefly appeared on the pitch, politicians, VIPs, officials and security personnel crowded around him, forming a human barrier that blocked the view of most fans. 

Despite repeated appeals from organisers to clear the field, the situation did not improve. Messi appeared uncomfortable and was escorted away much earlier than scheduled due to security concerns.

Violence and arrest after early exit

Messi’s premature departure triggered anger inside the stadium, leading to violent scenes. Bottles were thrown, seats were smashed, chairs were ripped out and parts of temporary structures were damaged, with attempts reportedly made to set sections on fire before police intervened. The unrest lasted for over an hour, although authorities prevented further escalation.

Following widespread criticism over the handling of the event, Kolkata Police arrested Satadru Dutta, the prime organiser of the tour’s Kolkata leg, citing lapses in crowd control and security.

Tour continues amid tight schedule

The three-day India tour, organised under Dutta’s leadership, brought Messi to the country for meet-and-greet sessions, a virtual statue inauguration and brief stadium appearances. The Kolkata visit took place against a bleak backdrop for Indian football, with the national team slipping to 142nd in the latest FIFA rankings – its lowest position since October 2016.

After concluding his Kolkata and Hyderabad engagements, Messi is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on December 14 for events including the Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India, a celebrity football match, and a programme at Wankhede Stadium that will also feature a charity fashion show. The tour wraps up in New Delhi on December 15, where Messi is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend a felicitation event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium alongside players from the Minerva Academy.