Lionel Messi’s Visit to India Turns into a Major Disappointment!

Leo Messi remains busy. Just days after winning the MLS Cup with Inter Miami against the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-1), the Argentine star traveled to India for a promotional visit. His arrival was highly anticipated, especially in Kolkata, where tens of thousands of fans gathered at Salt Lake Stadium this past Saturday.

However, what was meant to be a festive event turned into a major disappointment and scenes of chaos. Surrounded by officials and photographers, the World Champion made a brief appearance on the pitch before leaving the stadium quickly to honor another commitment. His few minutes on the field were hardly enough for fans who had traveled from afar and paid high prices for tickets to catch a glimpse of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Frustration Leads to Outrage Among Indian Fans

Frustration quickly turned into anger. As soon as Messi left the field, fans began throwing bottles and seats onto the track. Banners bearing Messi’s image were ripped down, and officials were booed. According to the X account Khel Now, Messi was reportedly delayed in leaving the stadium due to the chaos, before Asian News International (ANI) captured footage of his convoy departing Kolkata for the airport. Fans expressed their outrage, with one stating, “It was really disappointing; we came from Darjeeling for this. We didn’t even get a good look at him, and it’s the most disappointing thing I’ve ever seen.”

Many others echoed a similar sense of injustice. “We are very disappointed. My child was eager to see Messi. I think this is a scam. When Messi arrived, only officials surrounded him,” said another fan. “We had a 12,000 IDR ticket, but we didn’t even get to see him.” A third lamented, “This was an absolutely pathetic event. He stayed for barely ten minutes. All the officials and ministers surrounded him. We saw nothing. He didn’t kick a single ball, not even a penalty. What a waste of money, emotions, and time! We saw nothing!” In Kolkata, Messi was also scheduled to virtually inaugurate a 21-meter statue of himself holding the World Cup for safety reasons. During his stay, the former Paris Saint-Germain player is also set to attend concerts, youth football camps, a padel tournament, and launch charitable initiatives.