Kolkata: Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium witnessed football madness of a very different kind on Saturday as Lionel Messi’s much-hyped Kolkata stop ended in chaos and one fan walking away with a carpet became the internet’s unexpected star. After paying Rs 10,000 for a ticket and barely getting a glimpse of the Argentine legend, the visibly upset fan was caught on camera rolling up a stadium carpet and calmly heading out. His reason? Simple and painfully honest.“Messi ka face tak dikhai nahi diya. Camera mein mera face mat dikhana. Carpet le ke ja raha hoon. Itna paisa diya hai. Ghar mein practice karunga,” he said in Bengali, drawing loud laughter online.
Also Read: Lionel Messi GOAT Tour Chaos: Angry Fans Burn Sofas, Tents At Salt Lake Stadium - WATCHRoughly translated, the fan joked that since his money had “gone down the drain,” he might as well take the carpet home and practise football there.The humorous protest came amid growing anger inside the stadium after Messi’s appearance was cut short, leaving thousands of fans disappointed. Videos from the venue showed unruly scenes, with fans throwing bottles, damaging seats and storming restricted areas as frustration boiled over.
Also Read | Lionel Messi Event Fallout: Why Fans Felt Cheated and How It Led to Stadium ViolenceWhile authorities moved in to control the situation and organisers faced questioning over crowd management and planning failures, it was the carpet-carrying fan who captured the mood best, disappointed, sarcastic and trying to recover something for the money spent.Social media users were quick to turn the moment into memes, with many calling him “the most practical Messi fan ever” and others joking that the carpet was “the only thing that stayed longer than Messi.”
‘Skipped My Wedding for Messi’
As Kolkata’s much-anticipated Lionel Messi event on Saturday, part of the Argentine superstar’s GOAT India Tour 2025, was overshadowed by chaos, many spectators, including one fan who said he skipped his own wedding to be there, were left frustrated when Messi’s appearance lasted only briefly and was largely obscured by VIPs and security.“Everyone was excited today as Messi was coming. It’s my wedding day, but I left all the ceremonies to be here. Still, the management was so pathetic that I couldn’t even see him,” a fan told PTI as Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s event drew ire, with attendees alleging they couldn’t catch a glimpse of the star during his G.O.A.T. India Tour at Salt Lake Stadium.Lionel Messi has returned to India after 11 years for the much-awaited GOAT Tour, which includes stops across four cities. The Argentine football legend began the tour in Kolkata, widely regarded as the Mecca of Indian football. However, the opening event ended in chaos after Messi left the Salt Lake Stadium earlier than expected.
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