Lionel Messi’s highly publicised “GOAT Tour” stop in India descended into disorder after angry fans hurled chairs and bottles when the football icon appeared for only five minutes at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
The Inter Miami star, accompanied by Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked a short lap of honour and waved to the crowd before being rushed off amid mounting unrest.
Within minutes of his exit, thousands of frustrated supporters surged towards the pitch, clashing with security and vandalising stadium facilities.
Crowd anger over brief appearance
Fans accused organisers of gross mismanagement, claiming VIPs and politicians were prioritised while paying supporters were denied a clear view.
More than 80,000 tickets reportedly sold out within minutes, with some priced above $100.“For many of us, this was a dream,” said one supporter. “We paid heavily and saw nothing.” Another fan told local media people had spent a month’s salary only to watch Messi appear briefly before chaos erupted.
Stadium damage and official apology
As the situation escalated, police intervened to restore order. Broken seats, damaged banners and littered stands were left across sections of the stadium.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later issued a public apology, describing the scenes as “deeply disturbing” and confirming a formal inquiry into the incident.
Event overshadowed
The unrest overshadowed an otherwise high-profile visit, which included Messi virtually unveiling a 70-foot statue of himself holding the World Cup trophy earlier in the day.
Messi is on a three-day visit to India, his first since 2011, with further stops planned before his departure.