Argentina soccer superstar Lionel Messi arrived Saturday in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, as large crowds of jubilant fans gathered at the airport and lined the streets in the city to welcome him.
Indian news agency ANI said the soccer player, considered the greatest of his generation, was escorted out of the airport via an alternative route because an overwhelming number of people turned out at the airport to catch a glimpse of him.
Messi is visiting India as part of what’s billed as his “GOAT (greatest of all time) Tour” and is set to tour four cities in total: Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Messi visited Kolkata, the former capital of British-ruled India, for the first time in 2011.
This time, the soccer-mad city built a 70-foot-tall statue to mark his visit. The statue is set to be inaugurated Saturday and Messi is scheduled to take part in an inauguration ceremony.
Messi in India for less than 72 hours
Messi, who just won Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award for the second season in a row after leading Inter Miami to MLS Cup glory, is scheduled to visit Hyderabad and Mumbai before concluding the tour in New Delhi on Monday.
In Delhi, Messi is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The 2022 World Cup winner is set to cover India in less than 72 hours.
Messi is accompanied on the tour by his Inter Miami clubmates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar
