Argentina soccer superstar Lionel Messi arrived Saturdayย 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 saidย the soccer player, considered the greatest of his generation, was escorted out of the airport via an alternative route because anย 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” andย is set toย tour four cities in total: Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Messi visited Kolkata, the former capital of British-ruled India, for the first timeย in 2011.ย
This time, theย soccer-mad cityย built a 70-foot-tall statue to mark his visit. The statue is set to be inaugurated Saturday and Messi is scheduled to take partย in an inauguration ceremony.
Messi in India for less than 72 hours
Messi, who just wonย Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award for the second season in a row after leading Inter Miami toย MLSย Cup glory, isย scheduled to visit Hyderabad and Mumbai before concluding the tour in New Delhi on Monday.
In Delhi, Messiย 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