Messi in India: GOAT India Tour kicks off with Chaos in Kolkata, high hopes in Hyderabad

Lionel Messi has touched down in Hyderabad, and the security has been raised after the Kolkata event chaos. There have been extensive checks from the dog squad, and 3,000 personnel have been deployed with a three-tier security setup at the Uppal stadium. There will be heavy surveillance via 450 CCTV cameras and drones.

Several events are lined up during the tour, including an exhibition match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is also set to play a short match with Lionel Messi between two celebrity teams – “Singareni RR9,” led by Reddy, and the “Aparna-Messi All Stars”, captained by Messi.

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The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has also landed in Hyderabad and will be attending the event as a VIP guest.

Messi in India: Highlights and fan unrest from GOAT’s Kolkata city tour

Messi departed from the Kolkata airport around 2 pm after he left early from the Salt Lake Stadium.

West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar confirmed that the main organiser of the recent event featuring the football star in Kolkata has been detained following widespread chaos and mismanagement. The DGP stated that compensation for disappointed fans is also “on the cards”.

#WATCH | Kolkata: On the Chaos at Messi’s Kolkata event, West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar says, “There was some kind of anger or anxiety in the fans saying that he’s not playing. The plan was that he would come here, wave, meet certain people and leave. Now the government has already… pic.x.com/WMomQ5KgDb

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

The chief minister of Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee, was unable to meet Messi after he had to leave Salt Lake Stadium early due to the crowd turning violent. She took to X to apologise to the football superstar for the mismanagement and announced for an enquiry to be conducted into the incident.

“I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.”

“I sincerely apologise to Lionel Messi, as well as to all sports lovers and his fans, for the unfortunate incident. I am constituting an enquiry committee under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Ashim Kumar Ray, with the Chief Secretary and the Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, as members. The committee will conduct a detailed enquiry into the incident, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. Once again, I extend my heartfelt apologies to all sports lovers.”

I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.

I…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 13, 2025

The fans were disappointed after they were unable to catch a glimpse of the star. The frustrated fans threw bottles on the ground and tore seats. The scenes quickly turned chaotic, and the images emerging from the stadium paint a worrying picture.

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Angry fans threw bottles and chairs from the stands at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium

Star footballer Lionel Messi has left the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

More details awaited. pic.x.com/mcxi6YROyr

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

The police arrived at the stadium to manage the disappointed crowd booing the officials and politicians.

#WATCH | Police used mild force to disperse a large crowd gathered outside Lionel Messi’s hotel, as fans pushed past barricades hoping to catch a glimpse of the football star.#MessiInIndia #GOATIndiaTour2025 #Kolkata #SaltLakeStadium #Messi #TheStatesman pic.x.com/xUNAQUllh5

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) December 13, 2025

Messi arrived at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata to a roaring welcome from thousands of fans. Earlier, the football legend met Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his son Abram at the private meet-and-greet. The excitement inside the stadium continues to build as supporters await Messi’s appearance.