A day of excitement quickly devolved into chaos when football superstar Lionel Messi made a mere 20-minute appearance during a welcome event to kickstart his tour of India. The 2022 World Cup winner was scheduled to make a 45-minute appearance at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday (Dec 13), reported Reuters. Nearly 80,000 fans filled the open-air stadium, according to local reports, with fans paying between 3,500 rupees (S$50) and 12,000 rupees to get a glimpse of the renowned player. The event kicked off with Messi arriving to cheers from the crowd, as he made a round on the pitch and waved to fans. He was surrounded by a big entourage, however, and was obscured by a large group of officials and celebrities, upsetting adoring fans who failed to get a good look at him. The Argentina and Inter Miami forward was also whisked away by security 20 minutes into the event, causing an uproar amongst fans who began rioting in a display of their outrage.
Sunday 18 January 2026
asiaone - 1 month ago
Football fans riot after Lionel Messi makes mere 20-minute appearance at event in India
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