Shortly after star footballer Lionel Messi left the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata after attending a friendly match and a felicitation ceremony, chaos broke out at the venue, and fans started throwing water bottles on the ground. Visuals available from the Salt Lake Stadium showed angry fans indulging in vandalism at the venue.
News agency UNI reported that fans were unhappy with the fact that they hardly managed to get a glimpse of Messi at the stadium as he was largely surrounded by security personnel and others. The fans also alleged poor management of the event.
The fans complained that only security personnel, actors, leaders and other VIPs were allowed to enter the ground and go near the footballer from Argentina.
Kolkata, West Bengal: Angry fans vandalise the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, alleging poor management of the event
A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi said, “Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn’t see… pic.x.com/a3RsbEFmTi
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
It was reported that Messi left the ground after staying there for a brief 22 minutes. Organising officials had earlier said that the footballer would be on the ground for more than an hour. UNI said Messi, who arrived at 11:30 am in a white Audi, left at 11:52 am, leaving the fans disappointed. Fans had reportedly paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 18,000 for the opportunity to see the football legend from close range.
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A Messi fan who came to see the great at the stadium later told news agency ANI after the ceremony that if only VIPs were supposed to meet the footballer, why were they (fans) called to the stadium?
“Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi. Why did they call us then? We have got a ticket for Rs 12,000, but we were not even able to see his face.”
Another fan described the event as terrible, saying the star footballer was at the stadium for just 10 minutes. The fan rued that their money, time and emotions were wasted.
“Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn’t see anything. He didn’t take a single kick or a single penalty. They said they would bring Shah Rukh Khan too. They didn’t bring anyone. He came for 10 minutes and left. So much money, emotions, and time wasted. We couldn’t see anything…” the fan was reported as saying.
“We are very disappointed… My child was very excited to see Messi… I think it’s a scam for the people. When Messi arrived, everyone surrounded him…” a female fan told ANI.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Angry fans vandalised the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, alleging poor management of the event#GOATIndiaTour2025 #LionelMessi https://t.co/I0iqMUJsiQ pic.x.com/tG8GHIqubs
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
Earlier, Lionel Messi, who arrived in Kolkata early today, virtually unveiled his 70-foot statue installed at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town.
Messi cherished the support he received and said, “It’s a great pleasure for me to have done this inauguration today because I am very pleased with the support the people of Kolkata give to the national team and to me, and I feel great being here.”
Messi was in Kolkata on the first leg of his G.O.A.T. Tour India 2025. He is now leaving for Hyderabad for the second leg of his India visit. The footballer has events scheduled in Mumbai tomorrow, and he will be in Delhi on Monday before departing the country.