'Are we building sport or just celebrating stars?' Abhinav Bindra reflects during Lionel Messi’s India tour

Indian shooting great Abhinav Bindra struck a thoughtful note on Sunday as the country continued to be swept by what many have described as “Messi mania”. With Lionel Messi currently on a four-city tour of India, set to conclude on Monday in New Delhi with a football clinic at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Bindra used the moment to raise a broader question about India’s sporting priorities.

Bindra was careful to make it clear that his comments were not aimed at criticising Messi. Instead, the Olympic gold medallist asked whether India is truly investing in building a sporting culture or simply celebrating global superstars from a distance.



Messi’s India visit began last Saturday with a largely underwhelming stop in Kolkata, before moving more smoothly through Hyderabad and Mumbai. Across cities, the tour has attracted massive crowds, exclusive VIP interactions and intense media coverage. While the enthusiasm highlighted India’s fascination with global sporting icons, the spotlight often extended to politicians and Bollywood celebrities, something that appeared to trouble Bindra.

In a detailed post on X, Bindra said he holds deep respect and admiration for Messi, calling him a rare athlete whose journey goes beyond sport. He acknowledged Messi’s rise from a child overcoming physical challenges to a footballer who redefined excellence, and said he fully understands the commercial realities, branding power and appeal of modern sporting icons.

However, Bindra admitted that the scale and nature of the celebrations left him uneasy. He expressed concern about the amount of money and energy spent on the four-city tour at a time when India’s grassroots sporting ecosystem continues to struggle for attention and funding.

He pointed to the lack of accessible playgrounds, trained coaches and structured development pathways for young athletes, wondering what could have been achieved if even a small portion of the resources spent on high-profile events had been redirected towards these foundations. While he acknowledged that people are free to spend their money as they choose, Bindra said the contrast made him reflect on missed opportunities for long-term impact.

According to Bindra, great sporting nations are not built through isolated spectacles but through systems that nurture talent patiently over time. He stressed that inspiration alone is not enough, even when it comes from icons like Messi. What matters, he said, is pairing inspiration with intent and sustained commitment.

Bindra concluded by saying that the most meaningful way to honour legends is not through grand gestures or fleeting moments of access, but by ensuring that young children across India have fields to play on, coaches to guide them and a genuine chance to dream. That, he argued, is how sporting cultures take root and how lasting legacies are created.


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