Lionel Messi might temporarily step away from the football pitch and onto a cricket field – trading his iconic studs for spikes and a football for a cricket bat. If everything goes according to plan, fans could witness a surreal crossover moment as the Argentine legend takes part in a seven-a-side exhibition cricket match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on December 14.
Sources say the event may see Messi line up against some of India’s biggest cricketing icons, including MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. There’s also talk of Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma potentially featuring in what promises to be a one-of-a-kind sporting spectacle.
According to information accessed by The Indian Express, a leading event management agency has approached the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to block the stadium for that date. “Messi will be at Wankhede on December 14. He is likely to participate in a cricket match with former and current Indian cricketers. The organisers will confirm full details once everything is locked in,” a source at the MCA shared.
Messi’s India visit, scheduled from December 13 to 15, will reportedly include stops in New Delhi and Kolkata as part of a broader promotional tour. This will mark his second visit to India, his first being in 2011, when he played for Argentina in an international football friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
There had been earlier buzz about Argentina’s national football team – including Messi – playing friendlies in India this October. Kerala’s Sports Minister, V. Abdurahiman, even announced a deal with the Argentina Football Association (AFA) to host two matches in the state. However, those plans appear to have been put on hold for now.
At 38, Messi is still active at the top level, currently playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). He is also aiming for one final appearance at the FIFA World Cup in 2026, hoping to defend the title he helped Argentina win in 2022.
Should the cricket match in Mumbai go ahead, it would be a moment few sports fans could have ever imagined: Lionel Messi sharing a cricket pitch with Indian legends under the Wankhede lights.
