Chaos Erupts at Lionel Messi's India Tour Kickoff in Kolkata
Lionel Messi's India tour began with chaotic scenes on Saturday, 13 December 2025, at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. Angry fans ripped up and hurled seats onto the pitch and athletics track, leading to disorder at the event. Video footage from ANI shows spectators throwing seats and other objects onto the field, while several people climbed over a perimeter fence.
Messi made a brief appearance, lasting about 20 minutes, during which he walked around the pitch and waved to fans while surrounded by a large crowd. Despite the excitement, many fans reported ticket prices of around 12,000 rupees (£100) and complained they could not see him.
The tour spans multiple cities including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, featuring concerts, youth football clinics, a padel tournament, and charitable initiatives.
