A person lays amidst broken chairs following chaos during an event of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi as part of his 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025', at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), in Kolkata, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. Fans protested after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the footballer despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Credit: PTI Photo
Thousands of Lionel Messi fans were left disappointed on Saturday as chaos and vandalism ensued at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium.
Messi's much-hyped visit lasted only 22 minutes against his scheduled one-hour stay.
What was billed as a historic celebration of the sport's one of the greatest icons degenerated into a spectacular breakdown of planning, policing and priorities, as angry fans ran riot at the venue after failing to get even a glimpse of their favourite superstar from Argentina.
Fans who had paid hefty prices for the event expressed their frustration while talking to the media.
"It was really disappointing, we came all the way from Darjeeling for this. We couldn't even see him properly, and that was the most disappointing thing I have ever witnessed," said a fan while talking to news agency ANI.
Some fans even labelled the event as a 'scam' while expressing their disappointment. "My child was very excited to see Messi. I think it's a scam for the people. When Messi arrived, everyone surrounded him."
Over 50,000 fans had gathered at the stadium, chanting 'Messi, Messi' as former footballers from Mohun Bagan and Diamond Harbour FC -- all sporting No.10 jerseys -- played a 35-minute exhibition match.
At 11.30 am, Messi arrived dressed in black, and stepped out of a white Audi to a thunderous applause. However, within minutes, he was surrounded by a bevy of politicians, police officers, VIPs and their aides, forming a human blockade that ensured the paying public saw everything except Messi.
"Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi. Why did they call us then? We have got a ticket for 12,000, but we were not even able to see his face," said another fan.
"Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn't see anything. He didn't take a single kick or a single penalty. They said they would bring Shah Rukh Khan too. They didn't bring anyone. He came for 10 minutes and left. So much money, emotions, and time wasted. We couldn't see anything," added another.
As per reports, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was waiting outside near the Vivekananda statue, but had to eventually abandoned his plans altogether.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee who had already started from her residence for the venue had to make a U-turn and change her plans.
As Messi was escorted out of the stadium, angry fans stared hurling bottles -- banned items in an otherwise sporting venue.
Fibreglass seats lay smashed across the pitch and the synthetic track.
Two canopies erected for Messi and the chief minister's enclosure were torn apart, with attempts even made to set parts of them on fire before police intervened.
Gates were battered, the players' tunnel roof was hammered, and posters torn down.
The mayhem continued for nearly 90 minutes.