Lionel Messi's tour in Kolkata descends into chaos within 12 hours

Last weekend, Messi went on a 72-hour tour to India with his teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul after the trio won MLS together. This promotional tour, called “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time), included visits to four cities: Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. During the tour, Messi visited stadiums, met fans, and took part in several activities. However, things did not go smoothly for the Argentine star.

On Saturday, Messi attended a meet-and-greet at Salt Lake Stadium and was scheduled to take part in a friendly session with local players, but the situation quickly turned chaotic. Many fans who had bought tickets were unable to see Messi, as he was surrounded by security, politicians, and celebrities.

The disorder escalated, and Messi left the stadium after only 20 minutes. After his departure, some angry fans tore banners and threw bottles, while Messi was already on his way to Hyderabad. One fan at the stadium shared their frustration: “Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi. Why did they call us then? We paid 12,000 rupees for a ticket but couldn’t even see his face.”

Another fan said people had paid the equivalent of a month’s salary to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. “I paid 5,000 rupees for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi, not politicians,” they said. “The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame.”

After that incident, the rest of the tour went smoothly. Fans and children were able to spend time with Messi, and he stayed longer on the pitch at later events. After leaving Hyderabad, Messi met Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai, then joined fans at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium. He was also scheduled to meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the meeting was cancelled due to flight delays.

Finally, Messi addressed fans in New Delhi, saying: “It was beautiful to receive all the love and support. I knew it was there, but to feel it first-hand was amazing.” He added that he would “definitely be back,” drawing another roar from the crowd. The 38-year-old legend then ended his tour and returned to the US, promising to visit India again in the near future.