Defying chilly winter conditions massive crowds gathered late at night to greet Argentine football legend Lionel Messi upon his arrival in Kolkata marking the start of his high-profile three-day four-city GOAT India Tour 2025.
The incident took place in Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, in Kolkata, in northern India’s West Bengal, on December 13.
Visuals show that Lionel Messi was seen stepping off a plane at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata as thousands of people gathered to catch a glimpse of him.
According to reports, thousands defied the December cold and stayed up past midnight to give a thunderous welcome to Argentine football icon Lionel Messi as he landed in Kolkata for his whirlwind three-day four-city GOAT India Tour 2025. The former Barcelona star touched down at 2.26 am on Saturday triggering scenes of frenzy across the city. Gate 4 of the international arrivals echoed with chants waving flags and glowing mobile screens as fans rushed between gates hoping for even a brief glimpse.
Children sat on shoulders, drums beat loudly and cheers filled the air as Messi was escorted out through a VIP gate under heavy security. A tightly guarded convoy then took him to his hotel where another large crowd waited late into the night.
With barricades, police presence and nonstop chants the city witnessed full-blown Messi mania. Messi arrived alongside long-time strike partner Luis Suarez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul. Over the next 72 hours he will travel through Kolkata Hyderabad Mumbai and Delhi meeting chief ministers, business leaders, Bollywood personalities and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
