Lionel Messi is set to return to India after 14 long years, but for sports promoter Satadru Dutta, bringing the Argentinian superstar to the Indian shores was unlike any of his earlier projects, which included collaborations with legends like Pele, Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Emiliano Martínez.
Let’s dive in behind the scenes to find out the dramatic story of how the World Cup-winning captain was persuaded to agree to this visit.
“Lionel Messi is a little different from the rest because he is a current world champion, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, and he usually never does personal appearances,” Dutta said in an exclusive chat with Sports Now.
“I told him that while his popularity worldwide is unquestionable, in India, he is worshipped differently. Argentina is also one of the most loved football nations here,” he added.
Messi last played in India in 2011. “When he came in 2011, a whole new generation of fans was still too young to see him play. I requested that he consider returning, not just for the fans to see him again, but to create a positive ecosystem for football in India. Of course, a three-day tour won’t change everything in Indian football, but it can motivate kids and their parents to take the sport seriously as a profession,” he said before adding, “Convincing him was not easy. Messi is not commercial-minded, and I was told by his group that he famously turned down a one-billion-euro offer from Saudi Arabia.”
According to earlier media reports, when Messi left PSG, he was reportedly offered up to 15-20 million per week. It would have raked in a massive €900 million to €1 billion for the Argentine superstar in a season, but the 38-year-old turned down the offer and joined Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi To India: Building the Pitch
According to Dutta, it took more than two years of persuasion to bring Messi and his team on board. On how he finally sealed the deal, Dutta said: “It took a lot of persuasion. I structured the plan differently because corporates showed great interest in Messi. We got corporate partners on board, planned three ‘GOAT Concerts’ in stadiums so that more fans could see him, and included a football clinic where he would mentor kids.”
“There will be Kodak moments and collaborations with Indian sports legends, especially football icons. While the focus is on promoting football, Messi also has fans in other fields, such as Bollywood and cricket, so we’ll have a few crossover events. We’re also including charitable initiatives,” Dutta elucidated.
Right now, it’s a three-city tour, “This is likely Messi’s final appearance in India; I don’t think he’ll return in the next 10-15 years because of his schedule and stature. This is also the first personal event of this kind in Messi’s entire career,” said Dutta.
Lionel Messi to India: Winning Over the Inner Circle
The persuasion extended to Messi’s inner circle. “The main challenge was convincing Messi to travel such a long distance when he didn’t need the money. You can’t just tell him, ‘You have fans in India, so you should come’ – that logic doesn’t work with him,” Dutta explained.
His track record of bringing global legends to India played a key role. So did personal connections.
“My earlier record of bringing global legends helped. I also brought his close friend, Ronaldinho, who has been a mentor to Messi; his positive words helped. The Durga Puja statue of Messi we unveiled in 2023 also touched him and created a personal connection. I feel lucky and grateful that he agreed to come,” Dutta said before concluding by saying: “Messi’s schedule is packed to the minute, so for me this feels like a personal victory, a dream I’ve chased for two-and-a-half years.”