Messi Fever Grips Kolkata As City Of Joy Erupts Ahead of GOAT India Tour Launch

Last Updated:December 09, 2025, 19:19 IST

Lionel Messi is set to kick off the GOAT tour in Kolkata on 13 December before travelling to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi as the nation prepares to welcome the World Cup winner.

Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour India is slated to begin on Dec 13 in Kolkata.

Kolkata is currently gripped by Messi mania as the GOAT India Tour is set to begin in the city on 13 December. Lionel Messi will inaugurate the tour in Kolkata before travelling to Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. Shah Rukh Khan, a well-known admirer of Messi, is also expected to attend the Kolkata event.

A large number of tickets have already been sold, and long queues formed from early morning at the Salt Lake Stadium counters, where the event will take place. Gen Z fans were seen clicking photographs with their tickets and immediately uploading them on Instagram. The excitement around the counters reflected the overwhelming enthusiasm of those hoping to see Messi.

For Rajib Roy, a delivery worker, the moment was emotional. Holding his ticket, he told News18, “This is my dream come true. I have worked very hard, day and night, to get a Messi ticket. Finally, my dream has come true. This money is worth it. Messi is my God." He purchased a ticket priced at over Rs 4,000, convinced that watching Messi will be the defining moment of his life.

Fans across age groups—from 70-year-olds to Gen Z—were seen queueing up. Tickets start at around Rs 4,000, while VVIP tickets are priced at approximately Rs 25,000.

A group of students from Jadavpur University was seen celebrating after securing their tickets. Asked about the high prices, one student said, “I am a Messi fan. He is God. This is a lifetime achievement for me. My parents know how important Messi is in my life, so they helped me with the money." Another student told News18, “My parents are also fans. He may not come again. How could we miss this opportunity? All of us have bought tickets, and we will be there."

Alongside the ticket rush, merchandise sales have also picked up outside the stadium. An elderly woman selling Messi T-shirts said, “Messi, the football God, is coming. People are coming and buying these T-shirts. I am selling them for Rs 300. Not just T-shirts—you will get Messi bands, headbands, everything here."

Kolkata, known for its deep football culture, is witnessing an unprecedented response to the GOAT Tour.

Speaking to News18, organiser Satadru Dutta said, “The ticket sales are historic this time—record-breaking. Even Eden Gardens hasn’t seen sales like this, according to my ticket partner. Messi will remotely inaugurate his 70-foot statue and also demonstrate Tiki-Taka skills to children. Shah Rukh Khan, Sourav Ganguly and Mamata Banerjee will attend the programme. There will also be a celebrity match between Mohun Bagan and Diamond Harbour Club."

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