Argentinian football legends Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria are set to visit Kolkata, India in 2024, pending resolution of final logistical hurdles and scheduling conflicts. The anticipation has been building for football enthusiasts nationwide, eager to witness the magic of Messi on an Indian football pitch. Meanwhile, some reports also suggest that Kerala have invited the Argentina team to play a friendly in July.
Sports promoter Satadru Dutta, instrumental in bringing Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to Kolkata in July, speaking to Times Now, disclosed that Messi and Di Maria will arrive separately on different trips. Both visits are scheduled after the general elections in 2024, with Di Maria inaugurating a performance centre in Rishra. Dutta emphasized the need to consider the dates of the Bangladeshi general election since he plans to give them a tour of Bangladesh.
When will Lionel Messi come to Kolkata?
While Dutta remains optimistic about Messi’s visit, he highlighted challenges such as coordinating with organizers in India, ensuring security arrangements, and meeting Messi’s personal requirements. Messi’s visit may extend to the beginning of 2025 if delays occur, with the MLS winter break identified as a favorable window.
If Messi and Di Maria make the trip, it won’t be the first time that Argentine football legends have enthralled fans in Kolkata. Both Diego Maradona and Messi visited the City of Joy in 2011, and Messi, in a 2014 interview, acknowledged that his previous visit to India had left a lasting impression on him. Despite the challenges, the allure of a Messi and Di Maria tour remains highly tempting for fans of La Albiceleste.
