Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour took an ugly turn at its first stop in Kolkata on Saturday as poor crowd management at the Salt Lake Stadium left thousands of fans frustrated, with some even storming the field after the Argentina star left the venue.
The Kolkata leg of the tour was planned as a four-hour program that started at 9:00 am and featured a long list of invitees, including Shah Rukh Khan. However, the Bollywood actor met Messi earlier in the day during the virtual unveiling of the Argentinian’s 22-metre statue, rather than at the stadium event itself.
Fans in the venue complained about delays, overcrowding and a lack of clear communication from organisers, causing tensions to rise steadily throughout the morning.
“We have been at the gate since about 8am and the sheer mismanagement of the organizers has been very disappointing,” Sanmoy Saha told Sportstar from the stadium. «They killed time with a performance by (Bengali singer) Aneek Dhar and a dance routine. When Messi arrived, the crowd around him was so big that it was almost impossible to see him.»
Saha added that he had imagined his dream weekend unfolding very differently, echoing the disappointment of many supporters who had traveled long distances to catch a glimpse of the football icon.
More to follow
Published on December 13, 2025
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