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Messi's Kolkata Welcome: Music, Memories, and Chaos
13 Dec
Summary
- Messi shared a 15-minute private conversation with Sanjiv Goenka.
- Goenka gifted Messi a Saregama Carvaan music player.
- Crowd unrest disrupted Messi's planned meetings and fan interaction.
Lionel Messi's inaugural full day in Kolkata started with a serene, personal encounter with Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman of the RPSG Group. During their 15-minute conversation, Messi conveyed his appreciation for India and the sport's fervor, even receiving a Saregama Carvaan music player loaded with 5,000 Indian songs as a cultural gift. This intimate beginning contrasted sharply with the later events.
The afternoon saw a dramatic shift as Messi attended a ceremony at Sree Bhumi Sporting Club, where a statue was unveiled. Following this, his arrival at the Salt Lake Stadium for fan engagement was marred by significant crowd disturbances and security concerns. These issues ultimately led to the cancellation of planned meetings and a curtailment of his time in the city.
Consequently, Messi reportedly departed Kolkata earlier than scheduled for his next destination, Hyderabad. His GOAT Tour India 2025 is set to continue with stops in Mumbai and Delhi, where he is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, concluding his highly publicized visit.
