Football icon Lionel Messi and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan finally met in Kolkata during the first leg of the "GOAT Tour of India 2025," creating a globally celebrated moment. However, the event was later marred by chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Lionel Messi, in India for his multi-city "GOAT Tour of India 2025," met with Bollywood "King Khan" Shah Rukh Khan in a highly anticipated encounter in Kolkata. The two global icons shook hands and posed for photos, with Shah Rukh's youngest son, Abram Khan, also joining Messi for a separate picture, sending fans online into a frenzy.
Messi's itinerary in Kolkata included an exclusive meet-and-greet and the virtual unveiling of a 70-foot-tall statue of himself in the city. Shah Rukh Khan departed for Mumbai shortly after the initial event.
Messi's appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium was drastically cut short, lasting only about 20-22 minutes, which led to widespread anger and frustration among the thousands of fans who had paid high ticket prices (reportedly up to Tk 25,000 equivalent).
Disgruntled fans, who claimed they were unable to see Messi clearly due to VVIPs and security personnel, reacted by overturning seats, hurling bottles, storming the pitch, and damaging the stage and banners.
The main event organizer, Satadru Dutta, has been detained by police following the chaos and alleged mismanagement. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has reportedly ordered a high-level inquiry into the "unfortunate incident."
Officials have stated that the organizer is arranging to provide ticket refunds to affected attendees. Messi was quickly escorted out of the stadium amid the unrest and has since departed for the next leg of his tour in Hyderabad.
Messi had previously played a friendly match at the Salt Lake Stadium in 2011, where Argentina defeated Venezuela 1–0. The current "GOAT Tour" is a three-day, four-city extravaganza, also covering Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
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