Kolkata gets ready for Lionel Messi as Football Maestro arrives at City of Joy

Lionel Messi's long-awaited return to Kolkata has turned the city into a festival of football and nostalgia. His 2025 GOAT India Tour once again places the City of Joy at the centre of global football attention, rekindling memories of his iconic 2011 appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium.​

Kolkata's relationship with Messi began in 2011, when Argentina faced Venezuela in a FIFA international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium, drawing massive crowds and unprecedented buzz for a football match in India. That night established a deep emotional connection between the Argentine superstar and the city, which has long prided itself on being India's football capital.​

Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour 2025 launch

In 2025, Messi chose Kolkata as the opening stop of his GOAT India Tour, a multi-city fan

engagement and promotional journey across India. The tour begins on December 13 in Kolkata before moving on to other major centres like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad and New Delhi, underlining the country's growing importance in the global football fan ecosystem.

Kolkata's iconic Salt Lake Stadium is once again the focal point, but this time for concerts, special shows and interactive sessions rather than a full-fledged international match. Messi is slated to share the stage and possibly the field with Indian sporting legends such as Sourav Ganguly, Bhaichung Bhutia and Leander Paes, creating a rare multi-sport spectacle.​

To mark his visit, Kolkata fans have erected a 70-foot iron statue of Messi holding the 2022 World Cup trophy, symbolising their admiration for his journey from prodigy to world champion. The statue, located in eastern Kolkata, is planned to be unveiled in sync with his tour, with Messi associated with the inauguration even if security protocols limit his physical presence at the site.​

Will all Argentina fans head towards Salt Lake Stadium?

The City of Joy is bracing itself for the mega event at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan, and fans are eager to meet their idol with bare eyes. But in terms of the star-studded event at the Salt Lake Stadium, the pocket pinch remains a dampener for many. The minimum ticket cost of the Messi event is Rs 4,366, which is beyond the reach of many spectators.

There are many diehard fans of Messi, some of them consider the Argentine their footballing god. MyKhel spoke with some, who have bought the ticket for the event, while some won't be able to go for the pricing issues.

"Lionel Messi is the God in my life of flesh and blood. I never thought I would see the adorable God with my own eyes. But I am on the verge of touching that dream, it seems that what I saw was a dream, and what I am about to see is reality," says a fan named Dipayan Patra, who will be present at the event.

Another Argentina fan is Somasree Dutta (name changed after request), a woman working in the private sector, and is eager to get a glimpse of Messi.

"I am waiting a long time to watch Leo! I love him so much and it's a dream come true moment for all of us Argentina fans. "

There are many who love Argentina and Messi, but won't be able to attend the event for the high price of tickets. A fan who wanted to remain anonymous said, "There's no point in going there. We can only see a glimpse from so far away and that's not worth the hassle. "

A fan named Susovan Roy wanted to see Messi, but is simply not interested after seeing the price of the tickets.

"The simple reason is the price. Don't want to spend that exorbitant amount to see Messi from hundreds of meters away," he says.

Kolkata braces for Lionel Messi

Around the Yuba Bharati, the stalls of Lionel Messi scarves and Argentina shirts have started to appear. While talking with a vendor at the Bidhan Market of Kolkata, which is the hub to buy sports apparel in the city, MyKhel learnt that the Messi shirt is in high demand, which has increased by about 20-fold in the last two days.

"Lionel Messi's demand has risen massively. Our sales have increased, and everyone wants a Messi shirt! The production may fall short if it continues like this," he said.

We are hours away from Messi magic in Kolkata. Many will witness their dream, while a large section remains out of contention to meet the Argentina superstar. The former Barcelona star will land at the Kolkata airport at about 1:30 am late on Friday night, and the next 12 hours, as they say, will be a frenzy for many!