Chaos Erupts at Kolkata Stadium as Lionel Messi Makes a Short Visit During India Tour

Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated India visit turned chaotic at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. Fans breached security to catch a glimpse, forcing Messi to leave in 22 minutes. Police and organizers struggled to control the furious crowd.

Post Published By: Karan Sharma

Updated : 13 December 2025, 2:52 PM IST

Fans go wild for Lionel Messi

Kolkata: Football legend Lionel Messi visited India after 14 years. He was accompanied by Uruguay's Luis Suárez and Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

The three stars arrived at Kolkata Airport at 2:30 AM and virtually inaugurated a 70-foot-tall statue of Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium at 11 AM. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was also present at the event.

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Chaos at the Stadium

While the visit was supposed to be a memorable one for the fans, the situation at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday morning quickly spiraled out of control. When fans couldn't get a glimpse of Messi, they became agitated and breached security, storming onto the field. This led to chaos and pandemonium in the stadium.

Kolkata stadium erupts for Messi

Event Disrupted

Messi's presence lasted only 22 minutes, as the chaos forced him to be immediately escorted out of the stadium. The event was abruptly halted due to the incident. As a result, Shah Rukh Khan, former cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who were present at the stadium, were unable to meet Messi personally.

Organizers and Security Personnel Struggle

The organizers of the ‘GOAT Tour,’ including Shatadru Dutta, and security personnel had to work hard to safely escort Messi out of the stadium.

Fans present at the stadium, who had purchased tickets ranging from Rs 4,500 to Rs 10,000, began throwing bottles and damaging seats in frustration. The police had to put in considerable time and effort to bring the situation under control.

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Fans' Disappointment

What was supposed to be a celebration for the fans in Kolkata turned into a day of disappointment and chaos. The fans' attempts to catch a glimpse of Messi led to a breach of security, completely disrupting the event.

This incident highlights the critical importance of security and event planning when dealing with such large crowds of fans.