Lionel Messi‘s highly anticipated three-day ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’ has begun, igniting football fever across the subcontinent. The tour, spanning four cities, kicked off spectacularly in Kolkata on December 13, where the World Cup winner arrived to a massive reception.

Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025

His initial events at the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan) included a celebrity appearance and virtual inauguration of a 70-foot statue, featuring high-profile Indian personalities like Sourav Ganguly and Shah Rukh Khanfirmly bridging the gap between football and Indian stardom.

As Messi travels to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, where meetings with figures like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli are highly rumored for events like the Padel GOAT Cup in Mumbai and clinics in Delhi, the long-standing debate over the football GOAT resurfaces. It is fascinating to look back at where these three cricket icons stood on the Messi vs Ronaldo choice, revealing a split in their appreciation for talent.

Virat Kohli’s choice: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

• Cristiano Ronaldo (Source: FIFA.com, 2019)

Kohli is a staunch admirer of Cristiano Ronaldochoosing the Portuguese forward as the GOAT based on his relentless work ethic and dedication to physical excellence. Kohli has repeatedly stated that while Messi is an “absolute natural talent” and a “freak,” it is Ronaldo’s drive and will to put in the effort during every single minute of the game that separates him from everyone else.

Kohli provided his full answer on the matter to FIFA.com in 2019, which was reported by multiple outlets: “It’s a personal preference. Messi is a freak, absolute natural talent, and his ability is second to none.  For me, what stands out is the ability or the will to put in the effort in every single minute of the game. Ronaldo’s drive separates him from everyone else. Playing at the top level, everyone has talent, but I don’t think anyone has the will that he has.” Furthermore, he has described Ronaldo as “the most complete player” he has ever seen, praising his skills with both feet, speed, and overall success across multiple challenges in his career.

Sachin Tendulkar’s choice: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

• Lionel Messi (Source: Graham Bensinger Interview, 2022)

Tendulkar leans towards Messi in the GOAT debate, favouring the Argentine’s unique, natural artistry and creative genius on the field. Tendulkar’s perspective often aligns with preferring the spontaneous, innate talent over pure athletic drive. While he did not provide a long explanation like Kohli, his brief, definitive statement was captured during an interview on the Graham Bensinger show in 2022, summarizing his preference precisely. When asked to choose between the two footballing giants, Tendulkar revealed his choice with the quote: “Messi is more of my type.” This concise answer suggests an affinity for Messi’s style of play, which mirrors the classical, elegant style that Tendulkar himself was known for.

MS Dhoni’s choice: Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?

• Lionel Messi (Source: Official Twitter Exchange, August 9, 2013)

Dhoni revealed his choice to be Messi in a direct exchange with a fan on Twitter in 2013. Dhoni, known for his love of football and calm demeanor often compared to Messi’s composure, settled the long-standing fan query by responding directly to a question about his favorite player between the two. A fan account, @hemali03, asked Dhoni: “what u think abt Ronaldo and Messi ?? Ur favorite one ??” on August 9, 2013. Dhoni’s full quote, as seen in the verified exchange, was swift and unambiguous: “I would say Messi.” This succinct answer solidified his preference, aligning him with the natural genius of the Argentine forward rather than the driven athleticism of Ronaldo.

The question by the user can no longer be seen as it appears to have been deleted or deactivated. However, MS Dhoni’s official reply remains visible on his timeline, confirming his preference. Dhoni’s full quote, as seen in the verified exchange, was swift and unambiguous: “I would say Messi.” This succinct answer solidified his preference, aligning him with the natural genius of the Argentine forward.