Lionel Messi's Planned Meeting with PM Modi: The Jersey Gift That Never Happened

Dec 17, 2025 01:28 am CST

Argentinian football legend Lionel Messi had agreed to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his India tour and had even purchased a special jersey as a birthday gift, reveals former Union Minister Praful Patel. The high-profile meeting never materialized due to scheduling conflicts with the PM's Jordan visit, following Messi's controversial abbreviated appearance at Kolkata's Salt Lake stadium.