Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated appearance in Kolkata as part of his “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) Tour triggered widespread disappointment and anger among fans on Saturday, after many claimed they were denied even a proper glimpse of the Argentine football icon despite paying steep ticket prices.
Messi arrived at the Salt Lake Stadium around 11:15 am but left shortly thereafter, prompting frustration among spectators who had paid between ₹5,000 and ₹25,000 for entry. Several fans said the football legend did not complete a full lap of the stadium, they could not see him clearly, and the visit ended far earlier than expected.
The situation escalated as visibly upset fans began throwing chairs and bottles onto the ground inside the stadium. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of disorder, with one fan describing the event as an “absolute disgrace” and another saying, “People are furious. They are trying to break a gate.” Ticket holders said they had paid anywhere between ₹3,800 and ₹11,800 simply to catch a glimpse of Messi.
Security personnel were forced to intervene as tempers flared, with organisers facing mounting criticism over crowd management and expectations set for the event.
Messi is in India for a three-day GOAT Tour, scheduled from Saturday to Monday, which includes visits to Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. The itinerary features exhibition events, VIP interactions and engagements with young footballers. The tour has drawn added attention as Messi is accompanied by Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez and fellow Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul.
The Kolkata leg marked the start of the tour and had generated enormous buzz in the city. In the days leading up to Messi’s arrival, streets were awash with fans wearing Argentina jerseys in blue and white, reflecting the scale of anticipation surrounding the global football superstar’s visit.
Saturday’s events, however, left many fans feeling short-changed, casting a shadow over what was expected to be a celebratory opening to Messi’s India tour.