World Cup“winning Argentina football legend Lionel Messi is set to visit India again after 2011. After a gap of 14 years, the star footballer will return to Indian soil. However, unlike his earlier visit, fans will not get to see Messi play a match this time. In 2011, Argentina had played Venezuela in India, which gave fans a chance to watch him in action.
During his 72-hour visit, Messi will travel to four cities ” Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. His tour began on Saturday morning at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
Former Indian footballers have expressed disappointment over the visit, saying it lacks any football activity. They feel the tour appears more like a promotional event than a sporting one. On December 14, a fashion show will be held in Mumbai for invited guests. Messi will attend the event along with teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. Models, cricketers and Bollywood celebrities are expected to be present. Critics have said the visit focuses more on appearances and handshakes than on football itself.
