SRK Welcomes Lionel Messi in Kolkata; GOAT India Tour 2025

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        Shah Rukh Khan welcomes Lionel Messi in Kolkata as football icon unveils his 70-foot statue
    Messi reveals 70-foot statue of himself at Salt Lake Stadium
Shah Rukh Khan is present at the Salt Lake Stadium for an event honoring Messi

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By Gayathri KallukaranDec 13, 2025
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HighlightsKolkata opens Messi’s GOAT Tour of India 2025
Football icon unveils a 70-foot statue alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Luis Suárez
Salt Lake Stadium hosts Messi for the first time since his 2011 India visit
Statue unveiling draws sports and cinema togetherFootball legend Lionel Messi unveils a 70-foot statue in Kolkata on Saturday, with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez in attendance. The ceremony takes place in West Bengal ahead of a special event at the Salt Lake Stadium dedicated to the Argentine great.
Shah Rukh Khan meets Messi during the unveiling and arrives at the stadium as part of the day’s celebrations, bringing together two global icons from sport and cinema.
Salt Lake event and Shah Rukh Khan’s appearanceShah Rukh Khan is present at the Salt Lake Stadium for an event honoring Messi. The actor, who co-owns the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, is set to share the stage with the footballer later in the day. Videos circulating online show the actor arriving in Kolkata ahead of the program.
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Kolkata opens GOAT Tour of India 2025Kolkata serves as the first stop of Messi’s GOAT Tour of India 2025. The tour continues to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. The visit marks Messi’s return to the city after 14 years and his first trip to India since 2011, when he captained Argentina in a FIFA friendly against Venezuela at the same venue.
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Ahead of the event, Shah Rukh Khan posts on X, saying he hopes the day belongs entirely to Messi as fans gather at Salt Lake Stadium on December 13.
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Felicitation, tournament, and fan engagementDuring his day-long stay in Kolkata, Messi is scheduled to be felicitated at the Salt Lake Stadium by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. A seven-a-side tournament titled the GOAT Cup is also organized in his honor.
The stadium hosts Messi for the second time, with plans for him to share the field with Indian sports icons Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Leander Paes. The visit also includes a workshop for children and the launch of a football clinic, adding a grassroots focus to the celebrations.
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Shah Rukh Khan welcomes Lionel Messi in Kolkata as football icon unveils his 70-foot statue

Messi reveals 70-foot statue of himself at Salt Lake Stadium

Highlights

Statue unveiling draws sports and cinema together

Salt Lake event and Shah Rukh Khan’s appearance

Kolkata opens GOAT Tour of India 2025

Felicitation, tournament, and fan engagement

The Latest

More For You

Highlights:

A milestone birthday and a milestone re-release

A chance to relive a classic

Why this re-release matters

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