"The GOAT Tour" Disaster: Inside Details of How VIP Chaos Ruined Messi's India Appearance
Lionel Messi's highly anticipated "GOAT India Tour" turned into a disaster in Kolkata, where fans rioted after VIPs monopolized the star, cutting his appearance short and leading to the chief organizer's detention.
The mismanagement of Messi's tour stop, including the massive VIP cluster around him, led to rioting and vandalism by angry fans.
The pressure gauge on Indian football excitement has violently snapped from 'Dream Come True' to 'Riot and Arrests,' courtesy of Lionel Messi's chaotic and controversial return to the country. The former World Cup winner embarked on the four-city "GOAT India Tour 2025," but his first stop in Kolkata was marred by such profound mismanagement largely due to unchecked "VIP culture" that it ended with fans trashing the Salt Lake Stadium and the chief organiser being detained.
The 38-year-old Argentine, who had not visited India since 2011, had an unusually short run in Kolkata. The event was promotional, commercially planned, and promised a rare glimpse of the star. Fans paid hefty ticket prices some up to ₹12,000 (US$145), with some reports even mentioning ₹25,000 just to see their idol. Messi had unusually come into the spotlight on the back of his MLS Cup victory, with the tour designed to capitalize on his global peak of fame.
But the event got straight to the business of chaos. Earlier in the day, a towering 70-foot statue of Messi holding the World Cup was unveiled virtually in Kolkata, as Messi could not attend in person due to security. However, the real meltdown occurred when Messi, along with teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, arrived at the Salt Lake Stadium for a scheduled appearance.
Inside footage and reports from attendees confirm that as soon as Messi stepped onto the pitch for what was supposed to be a lap of honor and a 22-minute public appearance (originally scheduled for 45 minutes), he was immediately surrounded and hemmed in. Instead of engaging with the stands, the star was obscured by a dense cluster of officials, local politicians, and VIPs, many of whom were focused on taking selfies and getting close to the star. Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia slammed the incident, stating that due to "unwanted VIPs" who should not have been there, "genuine fans did not really get to see him."
Promoter Satadru Dutta repeatedly urged the crowd over the public address system to "Please leave him alone" and "Please clear the ground," but the pleas were ignored as more dignitaries crowded in. Messi, showing a puzzled and amused expression, was unable to move freely and his security team was forced to abandon the planned lap. His entire appearance was cut short to under 22 minutes, well before many expected dignitaries arrived.
The fallout was immediate: frustrated fans ripped up stadium seats, hurled water bottles, and vandalized banners, forcing an immediate police intervention as the chief organizer, Satadru Dutta, was detained and made to pledge a ticket refund after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered a probe into the severe mismanagement. The entire debacle cost Messi, who is slated to earn up to $107,000 per appearance, almost nothing, but has cast a severe shadow over the rest of the tour.
