Hey football fans, Messi’s big GOAT Tour in India from Dec 13-15 was supposed to be epic – him hitting Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi with Suárez and De Paul for fan meets, kid kickabouts, celeb hangs, and tributes.
It kicked off rough in Kolkata: massive crowds at Salt Lake Stadium, but poor organization meant Messi only appeared briefly (like 20 mins), fans got furious, ripped up seats, threw stuff, and chaos ensued. The organizer got arrested, and the chief minister even apologized.
Thankfully, the rest smoothed out – Hyderabad was chill with a full hour on pitch, Mumbai had cool moments with Tendulkar and Chhetri, and Delhi wrapped it up nicely with kids’ sessions and selfies. Messi called it crazy love and promised he’d be back
The Highs: A Hero’s Welcome and That Epic Statue!
Messi landed in Kolkata on December 13 to absolute madness – thousands lined the streets just for a glimpse. The tour kicked off with him virtually unveiling a jaw-dropping 21-metre (70-foot) iron statue of himself hoisting the 2022 World Cup trophy at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town. Built by a team of 45 over 27-40 days (reports vary), it was a fitting tribute in a city obsessed with football. Messi pressed a button remotely, met Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, and even former cricket legend Sourav Ganguly was slated to join.
From there, things smoothed out in other cities. In Hyderabad, things turned around beautifully – Messi ran a fun football clinic with excited kids, showed off his skills in an exhibition match (even kicking with the CM!), and posed for pics with opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, who got a signed No. 10 jersey.
Then Mumbai was pure magic at Wankhede: he booted balls into the roaring crowd, watched a lively celebrity friendly match led by Sunil Chhetri, and had an epic crossover moment getting a signed India cricket jersey from the legend Sachin Tendulkar himself. The finale in Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium was emotional – Messi kicked balls into the stands, thanked fans in Spanish, and left everyone chanting his name. He even hinted at returning for a proper match someday. For many, these moments were dreams come true, especially post his MLS Cup win.
The Lows: Kolkata Chaos and Heartbroken Fans
But Kolkata? Oof. At Salt Lake Stadium, over 80,000 packed in, paying anywhere from ₹3,500 to ₹14,000 – a month’s salary for some. Messi was supposed to do a lap, interact, maybe a short exhibition. Chaos erupted: chairs thrown, seats ripped, bottles flying, pitch invaded. It turned into vandalism, with riot police stepping in.
The fallout was swift. Promoter Satadru Dutta – who’s brought legends like Pelé and Maradona before – was arrested at the airport, remanded for 14 days. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee apologized to Messi and fans, ordering refunds and an inquiry. One fan famously skipped his own wedding: “Mera shaadi chhod ke aaya” (I left my wedding and came), only to see nothing.
What Went Wrong – And Lessons Learned?
Poor planning, overcrowding, and VIP overload seem to blame. Tickets promised more than delivered, and security couldn’t handle the passion. Yet, the rest of the tour redeemed it somewhat, showing India’s love for football is alive. Messi seemed touched, calling fans “fantastic.
In the end, this GOAT Tour highlighted the highs of hero worship and the pitfalls of hype. Fingers crossed for stricter rules next time – because India deserves better when legends visit.
Sources:
BBC Sport
Al JazeeraThe Hindu
Times of India
NDTV Sports Reuters
