Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav recently got a once-in-a-lifetime experience when he shared the same frame as football legend Lionel Messi during the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’. Kuldeep, alongside India women’s fast bowler Renuka Thakur, featured in a special promotional shoot with the Argentine superstar and his teammate Rodrigo De Paul for a global sports brand.
Kuldeep, a well-known football enthusiast, appeared elated throughout the shoot, smiling brightly as he interacted with Messi, a moment he described as a dream come true.
Messi’s grand tour of India
Messi kicked off his GOAT India Tour in Kolkata, where he unveiled a statue of himself at Salt Lake Stadium and later played casually on the field with teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. He then travelled to Hyderabad, where Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy joined the celebrations. Fans were thrilled as Messi displayed his trademark ball control and even kicked footballs into the crowd, leaving lucky supporters with priceless souvenirs.
The football icon then headed to Mumbai, attending a celebrity meet-and-greet at the Cricket Club of India before visiting the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Marine Drive and local trains were decked out with banners and jerseys in his honour. At Wankhede, Messi received a grand welcome from thousands of fans chanting his name. The evening became even more memorable when he met cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who presented him with a signed Indian jersey from the 2011 World Cup.
Messi concluded his India visit with a meaningful trip to Vantara, an animal rescue and conservation centre led by Anant Ambani in Jamnagar. There, he participated in traditional rituals, met conservation teams, and spent time with rescued animals, bringing his historic India tour to a heartwarming close.
