Newz Desk, Durgapur: The city is once again trembling with football fever as Lionel Messi prepares to land in Kolkata on December 13 — his first visit to the city since the iconic 2011 friendly at Salt Lake Stadium. For thousands of fans, the chance to see the Argentine legend in person is priceless, with many willingly spending several thousand rupees for a ticket to the star-studded event.
Messi’s stop in Kolkata is part of the privately organised GOAT Tour of India 2025, which will take him to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi after his engagement in the city. The Salt Lake Stadium, which witnessed 70,000 fans welcoming the Argentina captain in 2011, is once again the chosen venue — this time for a celebrity match and a grand fan interaction event.
‘A pilgrimage for fans’
For many die-hard supporters, Messi’s arrival is nothing short of a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
“This isn’t an event — it’s a pilgrimage,” said Soumik Nag, a die-hard football fan, who spent nearly ₹7,000 for his ticket. “Kolkata breathes football, and Messi is worshipped here. The stadium is going to erupt with emotion.”
“I was lucky enough to see Messi live in Qatar, and it was the most magical experience of my life,” Saptarshi Roy a techi from Bangalore said. “I booked my ticket for the December 13 event in Kolkata months ago, but due to unavoidable work commitments, I won’t be able to attend. It feels surreal — I have the ticket in my hand and have posted in FB for sale, but I won’t see him in person. My heart aches just thinking about it.”
Ticket prices have surged, with some categories now touching ₹13,000, yet demand shows no sign of slowing.
‘Football means Messi’
Fans like Debashis Banerjee—who paid ₹5,000—believe Messi’s appeal transcends football. “He’s a gentleman, grounded and hardworking. Messi inspires millions, and seeing him in Kolkata again feels symbolic, almost emotional.”
A city ready for ‘absolute, glorious chaos’
Organisers expect a massive turnout, with crowd control and security measures being fine-tuned for what is likely to be one of the most anticipated sporting events of 2025 in West Bengal.
“Messi walking onto the Salt Lake turf again will be absolute, glorious chaos,” said Majumder. “This city has waited 14 years for this.”
As the countdown begins, excitement is visibly rising across Kolkata — from football clubs and fan zones to tea stalls and college campuses. The city that treats football as religion is ready to welcome its demigod once more.
Image courtesy@internet
