By Martin Graham
Lionel Messi’s The much-awaited promotional tour of India took an unexpected turn on Saturday as chaos broke out during the opening stop of their three-day programme.
The Argentinian star arrived in Kolkata as part of a short tour that also included Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, and attracted huge attention from fans across the country.
For many fans, however, the experience proved disappointing, with a large number unable to get a proper glimpse of one of football’s most recognizable figures.
It marked Messi’s first appearance in India since 2011, making expectations particularly high among fans.
Purpose of visit and entry details
The trip followed Messi’s recent success with Inter Miami, where he helped the club to its first MLS Cup, and was designed as a marketing event.
Branded the GOAT India Tour 2025, using the phrase “the greatest of all time”, the trip featured Messi alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez of Uruguay and Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul.
Kolkata hosted the opening engagement on Saturday, after which the group traveled to Hyderabad on the same day, then continued to Mumbai on Sunday and concluded the tour in New Delhi on Monday. India was the only destination on the itinerary.
Entry prices varied widely. Standard access passes were set at Rs 3,500 in Kolkata and Hyderabad, rising to Rs 4,200 in New Delhi, amounts that represent a significant portion of the average weekly income in India.
Demand pushed resale costs much higher, with some backers paying as much as 12,000 rupees. A limited VVIP package, restricted to 100 people, offered personal interaction and a photo opportunity with Messi for one million rupees.
What happened in Calcutta
Messi landed in Kolkata around 01:30 local time, with crowds lining the streets and gathering outside his hotel hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
The schedule started with the exclusive meet-and-greet session between 09:00 and 10:30, but events soon took an unusual turn.
A towering 70ft statue depicting Messi lifting the World Cup was unveiled, although the footballer was not physically present. Instead, he appeared via a video link and activated the presentation remotely.
After meeting Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, Messi traveled to the Salt Lake Stadium, where he was expected to spend an hour. Instead, he left after about 20 minutes, sparking anger among ticket holders.
Fans complained that security personnel, politicians and celebrities surrounded Messi, preventing ordinary fans from seeing him, despite some having paid sums equivalent to several weeks’ or even a month’s salary.
A planned informal match with local players did not take place, and Messi quickly moved to Hyderabad.
Disorder, research and the rest of the journey
As Messi left the stadium, he waved briefly, but frustration soon mounted. Some fans ran onto the pitch, damaging banners and tents, while others threw seats and plastic bottles.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the scenes as deeply disturbing, announced an investigation and apologized to both Messi and sports fans.
Messi’s representatives stated that he had complied with the agreed appearance time and pointed to the official apologies regarding the organization of the event. Local media criticized poor planning, poor coordination and security lapses.
The organizer of the event, Satadru Dutta, was arrested and a city court ordered that he remain in police custody for 14 days.
Elsewhere, the tour went smoothly. In Hyderabad, the trio stayed on the field for a full hour in front of a packed venue.
In Mumbai, Messi met Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, while fog delayed the group’s arrival in New Delhi. There, thousands of people thronged the Arun Jaitley Stadium to watch a half-hour session with ball-hitting in the stands, interaction with children and autograph signing.
