Kolkata erupts in Messi frenzy as football icon arrives on India tour
Messi is set to unveil a 70-foot-high statue of himself at Salt Lake Stadium at an event to be attended by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who also arrived in Kolkata the same day by private aircraft
Kolkata witnessed scenes of unrestrained jubilation in early today (13 December) as Argentine football legend Lionel Messi arrived in the City of Joy, marking the start of the first leg of his three-day "GOAT India Tour 2025."
Thousands of fans braved the December cold to gather outside Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, where chants of "Messi, Messi" echoed through the night. The superstar landed at 2:26am local time and left the airport under heavy security arrangements at around 3:22am.
Supporters waving Indian and Argentine flags, flashing mobile phone lights, and beating drums crowded around Gate No 4 of the airport, jostling for a fleeting glimpse of their idol. Messi was briefly seen stepping off a private Gulfstream V jet, dressed in a black suit over a white T-shirt, before being driven straight off the tarmac.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Children perched on shoulders as the footballer was escorted through the VIP gate in a heavy convoy to his hotel, the Hyatt Regency, where another large crowd had waited deep into the night. The hotel lobby later turned chaotic as fans wearing white and sky-blue Argentina jerseys sprinted through corridors shouting "Messi! Messi!", with the chants echoing well past dawn.
Messi checked into Room 730, with the entire seventh floor sealed off to ensure tight security around his suite.
A family from New Alipore checked into the hotel a day early just so their son would not miss the moment.
"I'm a die-hard Ronaldo fan, so what? His biggest rival is coming to my city, and I cannot miss the moment. So we planned to stay in the hotel a day in advance," said Krish, a Class 9 student of Birla High School, who waited anxiously with his mother and elder sister for a glimpse of the icon.
Messi arrived in Kolkata accompanied by long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul. As part of the India tour, they are also scheduled to visit Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, where they will meet chief ministers, corporate leaders, Bollywood celebrities, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (15 December).
The visit marks Messi's return to India after 14 years. In 2011, Argentina played a Fifa international friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, with Messi captaining the national side.
Later during his stay, Messi is set to unveil a 70-foot-high statue of himself at Salt Lake Stadium at an event to be attended by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who also arrived in Kolkata the same day by private aircraft.
