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Can Lionel Messi's visit boost Indian football? – DW – 12/12/2025
- Messi's visit reinforces India's football fever and sustains momentum beyond a cricket-dominated sports culture, with Kolkata and other cities embracing the tour as a unifying moment for the sport.
- Experts caution that lasting growth hinges on improved infrastructure, governance, and a stable commercial framework to translate fan interest into development.
- The AIFF and ISL face financial hurdles, including losing a commercial rights partner, underscoring the fragility of current growth models.
- The visit is seen as a catalyst to elevate national focus on football, potentially attracting politicians, industrialists, and football bodies into broader discussions.
- Clubs and fans anticipate tangible opportunities from the tour, such as coaching clinics and grassroots programs to nurture future talent.
- The event carries commercial potential, with premium hospitality packages priced at higher rates, signaling strong monetization prospects.
- Messi's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi links sport to national narratives and political attention during the tour.
- Local fans remain hopeful the visit could trigger a new generation of players, with Messi's presence sparking deeper interest in football.
- Even with rising enthusiasm, India ranks 142nd in FIFA's men's rankings, highlighting enduring infrastructure and development gaps despite local football fervor.
- Analysts emphasize that Messi's visit alone cannot transform football; sustained gains require continued investment and long-term commitments.
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