Messi leaves Salt Lake Stadium within minutes; angry fans throw bottles, vandalise seats and posters

MINUTES after reaching the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, football icon Lionel Messi left the venue without taking a complete lap of the field, leaving fans fuming at the management and throwing bottles and belts at them.

Chaos erupted at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday as spectators alleged they failed to get even a glimpse of Messi despite paying hefty amounts for tickets.

The Argentine football icon arrived at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan around 11.30 am and was the first to enter the ground. He briefly moved around and waved at the crowd. He was accompanied by long-time strike partner Luis Suárez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul.

However, fans alleged that Messi remained surrounded by VIPs, organisers and security personnel throughout his round, effectively blocking spectators from getting to see him.

Messi fans cancel honeymoon to catch glimpse of football icon

A newlywed Kolkata couple postponed their honeymoon to catch a glimpse of their hero – football icon Lionel Messi, who arrived in the city on Saturday.

Fans broke out in jubilant celebrations for Messi's arrival in the city. The Argentine legend is visiting Kolkata as a part of his GOAT Tour 2025.

Among a sea of fans gathered outside the Salt Lake Stadium, waiting for just a glimpse of Messi, were a newly married couple. Talking to the news agency ANI, they said that they had cancelled their honeymoon, because “Messi is important”.

“We recently got married, but on Messi's visit, we cancelled our honeymoon plan because first we wanted to see Messi... We are very excited to see him, and we have been following him for 10-12 years,” Karan, a die-hard Messi fan, told ANI.

His wife echoed the sentiment, saying, “Last Friday we got married, and we cancelled our honeymoon plan because Messi is coming as this is important. We have been following him since 2010.”

Aayush, a fan from Nepal, said he is thrilled to see Messi, calling it a childhood dream and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that brought him to Kolkata.

“I can't express my feelings in words. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, which is why I have come to Kolkata from Nepal,” Aayush told ANI.

An ecstatic fan of Messi said that the legendary footballer is his “Mohabbat”.

“I have loved Messi since 2007... 'Mohabbat hai'...” he said. “In 2026, we will get the World Cup again. Argentina will be the champion...”

Messi India tour plan

Besides his first pit stop in Kolkata, Lionel Messi is set to visit Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. He is also set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.