Come this winter, football icon Lionel Messi could be stepping onto the Wankhede Stadium pitch, not with a ball at his feet, but a cricket bat in hand. Plans are underway for a seven-a-side celebrity cricket match on December 14, which might feature Messi facing off against Indian legends like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rohit Sharma.
A reputed event management agency has reportedly approached the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to reserve the venue for the day, coinciding with Messi’s promotional tour of India.
An MCA source confirmed, “Messi will be at Wankhede on December 14. A friendly cricket game with retired and active Indian cricketers is being explored. The complete itinerary will be announced once finalized.”
Messi’s India tour is expected to span December 13–15, with stops in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata. This marks his first return to India in 14 years, the last being in 2011 when he played for Argentina in a friendly match against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Earlier, Kerala’s Sports Minister had hinted at Argentina’s national team visiting in October for friendlies, but those plans are currently on hold.
At 38, Messi continues to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and is eyeing a final World Cup appearance in 2026, after leading Argentina to victory in Qatar 2022.
If confirmed, this football-meets-cricket crossover event could become one of the most unique and star-studded sporting spectacles India has ever seen.