Messi's India Tour: From Chaos in Kolkata to a Proper Send-off in Delhi


Lionel Messi's tour of India wrapped up on a pleasant and celebratory note in Delhi, despite the absolute shambles that kicked things off in Kolkata.

The Mess in Kolkata

Messi's highly anticipated appearance at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on 13th December 2025 turned into a proper disaster. The place was absolutely rammed, crowd control was virtually non-existent, and far too many VIPs were given access, meaning thousands of fans who'd paid good money were left absolutely gutted—many couldn't even get a decent look at him.

His brief 20-minute appearance, with him surrounded by officials and security, really wound people up. Fed-up fans stormed onto the pitch, ripped up seats, and started throwing things, forcing Messi and his teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul to leave early. The backlash was so bad that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had to issue a public apology and ordered an investigation into what went wrong.

Things Got Better Elsewhere

After the Kolkata fiasco, Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025 moved on to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and finally New Delhi, where organisers actually got their act together with proper security and better crowd arrangements.

In Mumbai and Hyderabad, packed stadiums gave him a warm welcome, with fans chanting his name and properly enjoying his time on the pitch. By the time the tour reached Delhi, the atmosphere was buzzing in a good way rather than hostile.

A Decent Finish in Delhi

On 15th December 2025, Messi wrapped up his three-day tour at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Despite his flight being delayed because of heavy fog, he showed up alongside Suárez and De Paul, properly engaging with fans by kicking balls into the stands, signing autographs, and having a kickabout with kids.

Thousands turned up, chanting his name, and everything went off without a hitch.

What We Learned

The Kolkata chaos showed up some serious problems with how the event was organised, doing real damage to the city's reputation as a football hotspot. The later stops proved that with proper planning, Messi's visit could be celebrated safely and joyfully.

The Delhi finale restored some dignity to the tour, leaving fans with brilliant memories of seeing the Argentine legend in the flesh.

Bottom Line

Messi's India tour was really a tale of two halves: an absolute disaster of a start in Kolkata, followed by smooth, well-run events everywhere else. Whilst the Kolkata mess will be remembered as a lesson in how not to manage crowds, the successful Delhi finale made sure the tour ended on a high, proving once again Messi's global appeal and India's passion for football.


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