Football icon Lionel Messi’s visit to India has dominated the news, marked by a mix of excitement and chaotic scenes that nearly marred the tour. He was accompanied by teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
There was controversy among fans at the stadium after they were left disappointed when they were unable to see Messi up close, despite earlier assurances from the event organisers.
Later, the Barcelona legend went on to unveil a statue built in his honour, along with other activities that generated headlines.
Fans vandalise stadium as Messi's visit to India turns chaotic
Stadium Chaos
Messi’s visit to India turned chaotic on December 13, 2025, as some frustrated fans resorted to violence after failing to meet the superstar.
According to ANI news agency, fans had paid substantial sums of money with the promise of meeting the Barcelona icon, but that did not materialise.
Upon his arrival at the stadium, Messi walked around the pitch waving to fans but was closely surrounded by celebrities, government officials, and other dignitaries.
As a result, most fans were unable to catch even a glimpse of the Inter Miami player, and no special arrangements were made for meet‑and‑greet sessions as organisers had promised.
After the event, furious fans were seen ripping up stadium seats and throwing them onto the field and athletics track. Several people climbed over the perimeter fence and hurled objects onto the pitch.
Event Organiser’s Arrest
Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar, who accompanied the Governor and members of the inquiry committee set up by the state government to investigate the fiasco surrounding Messi’s GOAT India tour, blamed the chaos on “clear mismanagement,” as quoted by The Indian Express.
“When you cut a 1 hour 40‑minute event to 20 minutes, this is bound to happen. It is a fallout of mismanagement. We have arrested one person and prepared a list of people to be summoned,” he said after Satadru Dutta, the chief organiser of Messi’s India tour, was arrested.
Dutta’s bail plea was rejected by a Bidhannagar court, and he was remanded into 14‑day judicial custody. The police chief added that CCTV footage is being reviewed and more arrests will be made.
Statue Unveiling
Lionel Messi has been immortalised in Kolkata with the unveiling of a towering 70-foot iron statue showing him lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy. The monument was completed in just 40 days by the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club at Lake Town.
Due to the violent scenes at the stadium, the Inter Miami forward was forced to conduct the unveiling virtually from the Salt Lake Stadium for security reasons.
Alongside Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and West Bengal minister Sujit Bose, Messi watched as the covers were removed from the statue, expressing delight at the tribute.
Showcasing Football Skills
On Sunday, December 14, 2025, Messi met with Indian footballers and cricketers and spent time engaging with them.
He later performed a few football drills, showcasing his skills briefly before departing the venue.
The legend is scheduled to meet India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Watch the highlights below:
🎥#WATCH | Messi delivers a speech before making his way out of the Stadium. He was also presented a T20 World Cup ticket by the ICC Chairman Jay Shah
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) December 15, 2025
Track LIVE updates ➡️https://t.co/R2I1uwXsZM pic.twitter.com/W2MZon76Uw
Messi’s brief 5-minute appearance sparked chaos at Salt Lake Stadium, West Bengal as angry fans turned violent, throwing bottles, belts, chairs and vandalising hoardings.#Messi𓃵 #GOAT #MessiInIndia
— Sarcasm (@sarcastic_us) December 13, 2025
pic.twitter.com/PwRzP7BDeD
Messi almost kicked the football outside the stadium in Delhi 😯🔥 pic.twitter.com/wjQzwwa7WN
— Kusha Sharma (@Kushacritic) December 15, 2025
SB/JE
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