Kolkata: The ‘City of Joy’ is gearing up for a massive celebration on Saturday. One of the most iconic and valuable footballers in the world, Lionel Messi, will land in Kolkata along with his team, and the city is already in festive mode. Kolkata awaits him with a 70-foot statue, said to be the largest Messi statue in the world.

Football legends Pele and Maradona have visited Kolkata in the past. Messi’s arrival will become another unforgettable moment for football lovers in a city that holds the sport close to its heart.

Four-city tour

Messi is scheduled to land in Kolkata at 1.30 am on Saturday. He will be accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. After attending various events, he will leave for Hyderabad on Saturday afternoon, where he will participate in programmes alongside Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

On Sunday afternoon, Messi will arrive in Mumbai. On Monday afternoon, he will travel to Delhi, where he will attend an event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before departing the country.

Messi statue

The massive statue has been created in the Lake Town area of Kolkata under the leadership of Shribhumi Sporting Club. Including the 20-foot base, the structure rises to 70 feet, which organisers claim makes it the world’s tallest Lionel Messi statue. It depicts Messi celebrating Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup victory. Messi will unveil the statue virtually from Kolkata.

A 45-member team led by sculptor Monty Paul worked for 27 days to build the structure, and final touches are underway. Bengal Sports Minister and Shribhumi Sporting Club president Sujit Bose is also actively involved.

Ticket pricing

The three-day India tour, titled ‘GOAT (Greatest of All Time) India Tour 2025’, is organised under the leadership of sports promoter and business consultant Shatadru Dutta. The minimum ticket price for events is ₹4,500, while Mumbai events begin at ₹8,250.