The arrival of football superstar Lionel Messi in Kolkata as part of his four-city GOAT India Tour has ignited an immediate frenzy among his vast Indian fanbase. Amidst stories of fans camping out for a glimpse of the Argentine icon, one couple’s tale has particularly captivated social media: they cancelled their honeymoon just to see the footballer.
The Ultimate Fan Sacrifice
The couple, who got married just last Friday, December 5, made the decision to ditch their planned post-wedding trip after learning about Messi’s event in the city.
The woman told the news agency media:
“Last Friday we got married, and we cancelled our honeymoon plan because Messi is coming as this is important… We have been following him since 2010…”
Her husband echoed the sentiment, stating that watching the player he has followed for over a decade is a “more important event” than a honeymoon.
“We recently got married, but on Messi’s visit, we cancelled our honeymoon plan because first we wanted to see Messi… We are very excited to see him, and we have been following him for 10-12 years.”
This extreme display of devotion underscores the cultural significance of Messi’s visit, his first to India since 2011.
What is Messi Doing in Kolkata?
Kolkata is the opening leg of the three-day GOAT India Tour, which also includes stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
Messi, who landed in Kolkata on Saturday, December 13, is scheduled to attend a tightly packed itinerary of events in the city:
- Closed-Door Meetings: The player is set to have meetings with sponsors.
- Stadium Event: The main event will take place at the Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan), where the footballer is scheduled to arrive at approximately 10:50 am (based on the original article’s timing reference).
- Exhibition Match: Messi is scheduled to interact with players from the Mohun Bagan ‘Messi’ All Stars and Diamond Harbour ‘Messi’ All Stars, who will face each other in a 7v7 exhibition match.
- Master Class: The event also includes a “Master Class with Messi” for young scouted talents.
Following his engagements in Kolkata, Messi is scheduled to depart for the evening leg of his tour in Hyderabad around 2:00 pm IST.
GOAT India Tour: The Itinerary
The multi-city tour is an unprecedented fan engagement event, running from December 13 to December 15:
- December 13 (Day 1): Kolkata and Hyderabad (featuring a 7v7 match with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy).
- December 14 (Day 2): Mumbai (including a Padel GOAT Cup, charity fashion show, and celebrity football match at Wankhede Stadium).
- December 15 (Day 3): New Delhi (concluding with an event at Arun Jaitley Stadium and a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi).