The city’s long wait to see the Argentine star did not last long. Messi was forced to end his lap of honour at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan after the crowd surged towards the field. Bottles were thrown from the stands, and security staff escorted him off the ground within minutes.

The marquee football spectacle turned into chaos as thousands of Messi’s fans protested after failing to get a clear glimpse of the star and started throwing bottles and chairs.

Lionel Messi’s brief appearance at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan during the G.O.A.T. Tour of India 2025 left Kolkata fans angry, sparking chaos and vandalism at the stadium.