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GOAT In Town: 70-Ft Statue, SRK Meet-Up, Travel Advisory & More On The 3-Day Messi India Tour

It is clear that Kolkata has given Messi a welcome he will never forget. Now, it remains to be seen how the other cities receive the global football icon.

by Ashmeet Guliani
GOAT In Town: 70-Ft Statue, SRK Meet-Up, Travel Advisory & More On The 3-Day Messi India Tour

We won’t be wrong if we say Kolkata did not sleep on Friday night. The reason? The GOAT, Lionel Messi, finally landed in India at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Fans standing outside the airport counted every minute, waiting for the football star to grace them with his presence. Not just Kolkata, but the whole of India had been waiting for this moment. The social media frenzy around Messi proves exactly that.

Lionel Messi Lands In Kolkata For His GOAT India Tour 2025


The Argentine star’s private jet touched down at around 2:26 am on Saturday for the three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour 2025. And honestly, the excitement was unreal. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Gate 4 of international arrivals at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata, was packed with fans chanting his name. Sleep was clearly not an option for Kolkatans that night. Messi was all they wanted to see.

In videos shared on X by @M10GOAT, fans can be seen waiting endlessly, hoping to catch even a glimpse of Lionel Messi. While many could not see him up close, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd was focused on just one thing: their beloved football star.


People waited till nearly 3 am just to see Messi land in India. Another video posted on X by @HiGopalHere showed streets lined with fans welcoming Messi as his car passed by. It was truly a moment to remember.


A 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi has also been built in Kolkata. According to a report by The Times of India, the statue stands at Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, South Dum Dum.  If this is not love for the footballer, we don’t know what is. An X user, @Pvt_insaann, posted an image of the statue on their account. 

Also Read: It’s Confirmed! Shah Rukh Khan To Attend Lionel Messi’s India Tour In Kolkata On Dec 13

Global Icon To Meet PM Modi In Delhi


According to a report by Hindustan Times, the crowd at the Kolkata airport was so overwhelming that Messi was escorted out through a VIP exit. The frenzy did not end there. Another post on X, posted by @argfootballafa, showed an artist sketching a portrait of the GOAT in Kolkata.


Not just that, the football star also met Bollywood king Shah Rukh Khan and his son, AbRam. Videos and photos of the meeting are now going viral on social media. This photo was posted by X user, @SrkianNidhiii.

As per a report by The Times of India, over the next 72 hours, Messi will travel across four cities in India. After Kolkata, he will fly to Hyderabad to attend a programme at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, which also includes a short exhibition match. He will then head to Mumbai for an event at Wankhede Stadium. The final leg of the tour will see Messi in Delhi, where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Travel Advisory In Kolkata

Kolkata Traffic Police also issued a travel advisory to manage the crowd. Vehicles using EM Bypass will be diverted:
1. Along the EM Bypass from Panama Island to Ultadnga Flyover (Both boyunds)
2. Along Chaulpatty Road from its crossing with Gagan Sarkar Street to EM Bypass.
3. Along Beliaghata Main Road from its crossing with CIT Road up to EM Bypass
Along Narkeldanga Main Road in between Phoolbagan Crossing and EM Bypass

Also Read: Lionel Messi India Tour Adds Hyderabad As Next Stop. Mumbai Tickets Still Available

It is clear that Kolkata has given Messi a welcome he will never forget. So, are you excited that Messi has finally landed in India? We surely are!

Cover Image Courtesy: @marmat_poo42628/ X and @SrkianNidhiii/ X

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First Published: December 13, 2025 1:01 PM