Media reports suggest Lionel Messi's personal appearance fee for the non-competitive, multi-city tour is estimated to be between ₹100 to ₹150 crore (approx. $12 to $18 million USD).
This figure is complemented by additional fees for his accompanying teammates, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, estimated at a combined ₹20 to ₹30 crore (approx. $2.4 to $3.6 million USD).
The total expenditure for the entire four-city tour (including player fees, logistics, security, and production) was reportedly budgeted in the range of ₹150 to ₹200 crore (approx. $18 to $24 million USD).
The majority of the event's funding, an estimated 70% to 80% of the budget, was covered by major corporate sponsorships, totaling around ₹120 to ₹180 crore (approx. $14 to $22 million USD).
Exclusive fan interactions, such as the premium meet-and-greet package (which included a photo), were priced at a staggering ₹9.95 lakh plus GST (over $14,000 USD) per person.
Revenue from ticket sales for the public stadium events in cities like Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi were projected to generate between ₹50 to ₹80 crore, with general admission tickets starting from a few thousand rupees.
The massive financial outlay was seen by organizers and sponsors not just as a one-off event cost but as an investment to boost fan engagement, raise the profile of Indian football, and create significant tourism/hospitality revenue.