Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli’s sudden return to India has set social media buzzing, with fans now dreaming of a rare crossover moment between two global sporting icons, as the football legend Lionel Messi is already on his GOAT Tour India 2025.
Virat Kohli landed in Mumbai on Saturday, December 13, nearly 11 days before he is expected to turn out for Delhi in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. The Indian batting superstar’s arrival came at a time when Lionel Messi was touring India, which instantly sparked rumors of their meeting.
The dashing right-handed batter was spotted at the Mumbai airport with his wife, Anushka Sharma. Keeping it casual, Kohli wore a black T-shirt, jeans, aviator sunglasses, and a Dodgers cap, while Anushka opted for an olive jacket with straight hair and dark sunglasses.
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The former Indian captain was seen all smiles, posing for the paparazzi and waving at the fans at the airport. Kohli had left India soon after the three-match ODI series against South Africa ended. Since their kids, Vamika and Akaay, don’t seem to be with them, the trip is probably a short one. This led fans to quickly connect the dots between Kohli’s return and Messi’s visit to India.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma snapped at the Private Airport, Mumbai🥹🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/X0nxSJOVFr
— 𝙒𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙣🥂 (@wrognxvirat) December 13, 2025
Lionel Messi already arrived in Kolkata on December 13 and is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on Sunday, December 14, where he will attend a fan event at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. With Kohli already in Mumbai, there are high chances of a meet-and-greet between the two sporting icons.
Chaos at Salt Lake Stadium as Lionel Messi visits Kolkata
However, the Argentina captain’s trip to Kolkata ended in chaos. His appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium lasted just 22 minutes. Messi was quickly surrounded by politicians, VIPs, and heavy security, with the focus shifting more towards selfies than fan experience.
Because of that, fans couldn’t get a closer look at the football legend despite paying a lot for the same. Many fans had paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 for tickets, while some reportedly spent up to Rs 20,000 through unofficial channels.
Later, angry fans broke security protocol, breaking chairs and throwing water bottles, and the event had to be cut short. This was Messi’s second visit to the city as part of a four-city India tour that also includes Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
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Virat Kohli’s fairytale journey with Anushka Sharma
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are one of India’s most loved celebrity couples. Their love story reached the big moment of their life on December 11, 2017, when they got married in a quiet and private ceremony in Italy.
The couple stepped into parenthood in January 2021 with the birth of their daughter, Vamika. In 2024, their family became complete with the arrival of their son, Akaay. Kohli has been in sublime form with the bat, scoring two centuries and two fifties in his last six ODI outings.
He will be next seen in action for Delhi at the VHT tournament before returning to the national colors for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in January.
