KOLKATA came alive as Lionel Messi arrived to start the GOAT India Tour 2025. The Argentine football legend landed in the city on Saturday morning, creating a big buzz everywhere he went. He traveled from Dubai after leaving Miami, but even though it was late, thousands of fans gathered at the airport, shouting his name and holding up Argentina flags.
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Security was increased as fans tried to get close to the World Cup winner for just a moment. "Messi coming back to India after 14 years has brought a lot of happiness," said Satadru Dutta, who is organizing the tour.
Fans who stayed up all night described the experience as "surreal" and "magical."
Many arrived early, not wanting to miss what they saw as a special chance to meet their idol. "He's a magician, the GOAT. We're here just to see him," said one supporter, capturing the feelings of the crowd at the airport and around the city.
Messi's schedule in Kolkata starts with a private meeting from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for invited guests.
Later, he will take part in the virtual inauguration of a new statue in his honor, a tribute to the city's love for the football star. The main event of the day will be a friendly match in the evening at Yuva Bharati Stadium, where fans are expected to fill the stadium completely.
The GOAT India Tour will also take Messi to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi over the next few days.
Tickets for the Kolkata events, which are available through the District app starting at Rs 4,500, sold out quickly, showing how much people are excited about his visit. For Kolkata, Messi's return is one of the biggest football moments in more than a decade.