Fans gathered in large numbers at the airport, waving Argentina flags and chanting Messi's name, desperate for even a brief sighting Argentine football icon and World Cup winner Lionel Messi’s much-publicised arrival in Kolkata for his three-day ‘GOAT Tour’ was always expected to be a spectacle. But the moment that truly lingered had nothing to do with VIP movement, flashing cameras, or the heavy security detail. Instead, it came from a young girl standing quietly at the airport, holding a handwritten sign that read: “Save The Indian Football.” The short, unpolished clip of that moment spread quickly online. For many fans, it felt more powerful than any choreographed welcome. In a few words, the placard captured the frustration and uncertainty surrounding the sport in India far more clearly than any official statement or promotional event. In the video, the girl explains that her appeal is straightforward. She wants Indian football to survive, and she wants the Indian Super League (ISL) to return, instead of remaining stuck in uncertainty. Without intending to, her message became a mirror to the sport’s present condition in the country. Watch the video: #WATCH | Kolkata , West Bengal | Amidst a horde of fans celebrating Argentine footballer Lionel Messi’s touchdown in India, a local girl holds a placard that reads ‘Save the Indian Football’. Visuals from outside the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport. pic.twitter.com/oOh2DzMsiQ — ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2025 The contrast is hard to ignore. Indian football is currently navigating one of its most unsettled phases. The All India Football Federation is yet to finalise sponsors or secure a broadcast partner for the ISL. Even though December is well underway, there is still no clarity on when the league might resume, or if it will return in its familiar format at all. Meanwhile, Messi’s arrival sparked scenes of near hysteria. Fans gathered in large numbers at the airport, waving Argentina flags and chanting his name, desperate for even a brief sighting. Security was visibly intense, with multiple police cordons set up to manage the swelling crowds. Footage from the terminal shows Messi being swiftly guided by security and airport officials, but the excitement continued long after he departed. From the airport to the Hyatt Regency, where he is staying, Messi’s convoy was followed by waves of supporters. Videos circulating on social media show fans running alongside vehicles, phones held high, as chants of “Messi Messi” rang out through the streets in what many saw as a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The football icon himself is on a tightly packed 72-hour journey across Kolkata, Hyderabad , Mumbai , and Delhi from December 13 to 15. The tour appears designed more as a high-profile promotional run than a football-centric visit. In Kolkata, Messi is set to virtually unveil a 70-foot statue before heading to Hyderabad for a 7v7 exhibition match featuring Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy . Story continues below this ad Beyond that, his schedule includes meetings with three chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and a host of prominent celebrities.
IndiaIndia
‘Save Indian football’: As Lionel Messi touches down in Kolkata for GOAT India Tour 2025, a young fan’s appeal goes viral
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