Argentina soccer superstar Lionel Messi arrived Saturday in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, drawing large crowds of jubilant fans at the airport and along city streets.
Indian news agency ANI reported that Messi was escorted out of the airport via an alternative route after an overwhelming number of people turned out to catch a glimpse of him.
The visit is part of his “GOAT (greatest of all time) Tour,” which will take him to four Indian cities: Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. Messi first visited Kolkata in 2011.
Kolkata built a 70-foot-tall statue to mark his return; the statue is to be inaugurated Saturday and Messi is scheduled to take part in the inauguration ceremony.
Messi, who recently won Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award for a second consecutive season after leading Inter Miami to MLS Cup victory, will visit Hyderabad and Mumbai before concluding the tour in New Delhi on Monday. In Delhi, he is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The 2022 World Cup winner will cover all four cities in less than 72 hours. He is accompanied on the tour by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar