Lionel Messi came to Kolkata as part of his GOAT Tour on 13 December 2025. Thousands thronged Salt Lake Stadium, eager to catch a glimpse of the legendary footballer in flesh and blood. But the event turned chaotic. The fans were angry about the brief appearance.
The Arrival of Messi and his appearance
Messi reached Kolkata at 2:30 AM. He got a thrilling welcome at the beginning. Then he came onto the ground and stayed on for about 22 minutes. During that time, he mingled with the VIPs, mainly. Common fans felt snubbed. Frustration began to build really fast.
Fans Reaction
Angry supporters tore up the seats in the stadiums. They even threw chairs and bottles toward the pitch. Some of them entered the field and broke barriers. Security interfered right away. They regulated the crowd and wouldn’t allow further escalation. Fortunately no one got injured.
Reasons for Discontent
Fans paid up to 12,000 rupees for entry tickets. They wanted more interaction with Messi, but the entire event was VIP and sponsor-centric. Besides, mismanagement added to the glitches. Long wait and less visibility sparked the outrage.
Social Media Backlash
Videos of the chaos were shared on social media. Social media users lambasted India’s event management. Comparing, some were less critical towards it. For instance, one post underlined better hospitality elsewhere. This incident generated global discussions.
Organizers’ Response
The organizers received severe criticism. They blamed the fans’ behavior on misunderstandings. However many have pointed to mismanagement as the root cause of it all. In response, they promised better arrangements for future stops. The tour would continue despite the setback.
Impact on Messi’s Tour
This incident was a strong signal that the GOAT Tour did not kick off well in India. Messi had left the stadium safely. Fans still admire him but want more than what happened. Hence authorities investigate the incident. They will do their best to make sure such incidents do not happen at future events.
Wider Ramifications
Chaos shows the challenges which come with hosting global stars. For large crowds, strong planning is required. That’s something India will learn from, to make it better next time. In conclusion, the whole episode disappoints many. But it underlines the massive appeal of Messi across the world.
