Inside the International Arrivals area there were chants, flags flying and everyone holding their phones up taking pictures as they tried to see Messi.
As Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata, thousands of enthusiastic fans braved the bitter cold of the December night to be there for his arrival. Messi’s flight arrived on Saturday , December 13, 2025 at 2:26 AM Indian Standard Time and fans filled the airport with outbursts of excitement throughout the city upon hearing that he had landed.
Inside the International Arrivals area there were chants, flags flying and everyone holding their phones up taking pictures as they tried to see Messi.
Kids sat on shoulders, drums were played, and strict security guided Messi through the VIP entrance. A large group of vehicles picked up Messi and took him to his place of lodging, where many fans stayed until late at night.
Messi, who was the captain of Argentina’s World Cup-winning team, will be in India starting December 13 and will be joined by fellow World Cup champion, Rodrygo de Paul and his team-mate from Inter Miami, Luis Suarez, as a part of the GOAT tour group.
Given the amount of time that Messi will be in India, he has a very busy schedule which includes attending promotional events in Kolkata, being presented with an honour by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, at the Salt Lake Stadium, an event with celebrity attendees such as Sourav Ganguly and Shahrukh Khan, and unveiling a statue of himself measuring approximately 70 feet high at Lake Town.
