Kolkata erupted in a frenzy on December 13, 2025, as the city hosted the dazzling opening leg of Lionel Messi’s “GOAT India Tour.”
The arrival of the Argentine football icon was met with an unprecedented outpouring of affection, confirming Kolkata’s status as India’s spiritual home of football.
Thousands of ecstatic fans, draped in Argentine blue and white jerseys, lined the streets from the airport to his hotel, chanting his name and holding aloft banners proclaiming “Welcome Back King!” and “Gracias Messi.”
The atmosphere mirrored the famous reception he received during his previous visit in 2011, but the intensity was amplified by his status as a World Cup winner.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | An ecstatic fan of star footballer Lionel Messi says, “I have loved Messi since 2007… ‘Mohabbat hai’… In 2026, we will get the World Cup again. Argentina will be the champion…” https://t.co/nRenVILv6i pic.twitter.com/daea8mtIbS
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2025
Crazy scenes in India upon lionel Messi’s arrival 🤯🔥
— MC (@CrewsMat10) December 12, 2025
Not a president. Not a king.
Just a footballer called Lionel Messi. 🐐
And look at that reception. 🇮🇳🔥— MC (@CrewsMat10) December 12, 2025
#WATCH | West Bengal | A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi says, “… Last Friday we got married, and we cancelled our honeymoon plan because Messi is coming as this is important… We have been following him since 2010…” pic.twitter.com/9UKx0K9dGy
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
VIDEO | Kolkata: Excited fans await unveiling of the 70-foot statue of Argentine football star Lionel Messi at Salt Lake.#Kolkata #Messi #GOATIndiaTour
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/CdD9ZaCsX9
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025
The highlight of the day will be a spectacular evening event at the venerable Salt Lake Stadium.
The stadium is expected to be packed to capacity, not only to witness Messi in person but also to celebrate the launch of his India tour.
Messi will be joined on stage by prominent personalities including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, cricket legend Sourav Ganguly, and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, uniting the worlds of politics, cricket, and cinema in tribute to the global football star.
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