Lionel Messi’s much-hyped GOAT Tour of India was meant to be a celebration of football’s greatest icon. Instead, its opening stop in Kolkata spiralled into disorder, leaving fans angry, organisers under scrutiny and authorities issuing apologies.
Fresh from leading Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup, Messi arrived in India for a three-day promotional tour alongside club-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
Branded the GOAT India Tour 2025, it was the Argentina captain’s first visit to the country since 2011 and the only nation included in the itinerary. Expectations were enormous.
Those expectations were reflected in ticket sales. Standard entry for the Kolkata event was priced at 3,500 rupees, a significant sum in a country where that figure represents nearly half of an average weekly wage.
Demand, however, far outstripped supply. Reports suggested some fans paid up to 12,000 rupees on the secondary market. At the top end, 100 VVIP tickets costing one million rupees each promised a meet-and-greet and a photograph with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Kolkata woke early on Saturday to welcome Messi, who landed at 01:30 local time. Thousands gathered outside his hotel hoping for a glimpse of the superstar. The official programme began with a private meet-and-greet for premium ticket holders before a planned appearance at Salt Lake Stadium, where Messi was expected to spend an hour engaging with fans.
Instead, what followed fuelled frustration. A 70-foot statue of Messi lifting the World Cup was unveiled in the city, but only virtually. Messi appeared on a video screen to press a remote control, revealing the structure draped in blue. He later met Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan before arriving at the stadium around 11:30.
Messi walked out waving to supporters, but his stay lasted barely 20 minutes. Surrounded by heavy security, politicians and celebrities, he was quickly ushered away. Many fans said they never saw him clearly, despite paying heavily for tickets.
Anger spilled over almost immediately. Supporters stormed parts of the pitch, tore down banners and vandalised tents. Plastic chairs and water bottles were thrown as tempers flared. “We paid a month’s salary to see Messi, not politicians,” one fan told local media. Another complained that police and military personnel were taking selfies while paying supporters were kept at a distance.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee described the scenes as “deeply disturbing and shocking”, announcing an official enquiry and apologising to Messi and football fans. Organisers insisted Messi had fulfilled his agreed appearance time, while criticism focused on poor planning and crowd management. Satadru Dutta, the event organiser, was later arrested and remanded in police custody as investigations began.
The chaos in Kolkata cast a shadow over the tour, but it did not define the remaining stops. Later that day in Hyderabad, the event ran smoothly, with Messi staying on the pitch for a full hour in front of packed stands. On Sunday in Mumbai, he met Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, a moment that symbolised the crossover appeal of two sporting icons.
The tour concluded in New Delhi on Monday after a fog delay. Thousands gathered at Arun Jaitley Stadium, where Messi, Suarez and De Paul spent half an hour kicking balls into the crowd, interacting with children and signing autographs.
For many Indian fans, the tour still delivered unforgettable moments. Yet the scenes in Kolkata served as a stark reminder that when global superstardom meets intense local passion, meticulous organisation is essential. Without it, even a GOAT’s visit can descend into chaos.
Read related story from New Daily Prime: Messi extends Inter Miami stay until 2028
For more details, visit New Daily Prime at www.newdailyprime.news.
