Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra has said he felt “uneasy” watching parts of Lionel Messi’s India tour, raising concerns about how the visit was managed and what it ultimately achieved for sport in the country.

In a post on X, Bindra praised Messi as a rare athlete whose journey goes beyond football, saying he has deep respect for what the Argentine star represents — perseverance, humility and excellence. But Bindra added that as the tour unfolded, some moments appeared chaotic and left him “quietly uneasy,” prompting him to reflect on the larger picture.

“Millions spent” for brief access, Bindra says

Bindra pointed to the heavy focus on photo opportunities and close access to Messi, noting that politicians, celebrities and industrialists were seen lining up to meet him. While he acknowledged the commercial realities of global sport and said he does not blame Messi, Bindra questioned whether the energy and money spent around the tour could have been used more effectively.

He wrote that millions were spent for “moments of proximity,” photographs and fleeting access, and said he felt sad thinking about what could have been possible if even a fraction of that investment had gone into grassroots sports, such as better playgrounds, coaching and early talent development.

Tour began with crowd anger over mismanagement

Messi’s visit also drew criticism after an early event was hit by complaints of mismanagement, with fans reportedly upset that they did not get a clear view of the football icon. Later stops in Hyderabad and Mumbai were described as smoother, but the debate over priorities and outcomes continued online.

Bindra’s remarks have added weight to that discussion — shifting attention from celebrity moments to the long-term need for stronger sporting infrastructure in India.

Image Source: Google | Image Credit: Respective Owner