This much-publicized GOAT, Messi India Tour 2025, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration for Indian football lovers, especially in the city of Kolkata-a part of the unofficial Bible of football-landing up into chaos, disappointment, and a fierce wave of online abuse that spared nobody, even actor Subhashree Ganguly and her children.
Subhashree Ganguly Speaks Out
Recently, the Bengali film star Subhashree Ganguly broke her silence after facing intense trolling on social media. The backlash erupted after photographs of her with Lionel Messi went viral during his Kolkata stop. What began as online criticism soon escalated into something far more disturbing. Subhashree revealed that the hate campaign spiralled so badly that her children received death threats.
He expressed profound agony over the fact that a moment of rejoicing was distorted to become a reason for harassment. She said her presence at the venue was not political and not partial either; it was part of an officially arranged program, yet she became an easy target for infuriated fans who sought a scapegoat to blame in revenge for the disastrous evening.
What Went Wrong at Salt Lake Stadium
The controversy dates back to Saturday evening at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, where more than 60,000 spectators showed up to catch a glimpse of Lionel Messi. Anticipation was sky-high as tickets were sold at premium prices and the event was promoted as an extended on-field appearance by the football legend. For many fans, it was supposed to be a historic moment.
But the reality was far from the expectations. Reports began to emerge of mismanagement of the crowd and a lack of security measures. As tensions mounted, chairs and water bottles were hurled at sections of the crowd surging forward, and unrest began to spiral out of control throughout the stadium. With the safety concerns mounting, Messi was compelled to make an early exit from the venue much earlier than scheduled.
A Brief Sight, Enduring Outrage
Further fuel to the anger was the drastic reduction in Messi’s on-field time. What was billed as an hourlong interaction reportedly came down to barely 20 minutes. Many spectators, especially those seated far from the VVIP zones, struggled to see Messi well and had to rely on big screens inside the stadium for much of the evening.
Fans who had paid a lot of money to watch the match felt cheated. The frustration soon boiled over into open protest as some spectators stormed restricted areas and were seen venting their anger at organisers. The scenes were chaotic, ugly, and deeply embarrassing for an event of international stature.
Police Action and Political Aftermath
As the situation spiralled out of control, local police intervened to restore order. A number of people were taken into custody, and the chief organiser of the event was arrested. Authorities launched an investigation into alleged lapses, including unauthorised ticket sales, overcrowding, and major failures in crowd control.
The most uncanny and telling development came when the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, made a public apology to Messi and the fans. She admitted the mismanagement, ascertaining that accountability would be fixed and that it would make sure to learn lessons so that it does not happen in the future.
Messi’s Insured Left Foot and a Missed Match
The stunning insurance on Lionel Messi’s left leg, valued at an astonishing $900 million—over Rs 8,000 crore—was one such detail that caught notice during the fallout. Due to the insurance and contractual restrictions, Messi did not participate in any exhibition matches during his four-city India tour.
In the process, this limitation perhaps spared him from greater risk, given the volatile scenes in Kolkata. As much as it disappointed the fans that they would not get to see him play, the safety concerns also underlined why such restrictions had been kept in place.
A City’s Football Passion Meets Poor Planning
The love of Kolkata for football is the stuff of legends. The Salt Lake Stadium has seen iconic derbies and international-level crowds, making it a fitting venue for an event of this scale-at least on paper. Messi’s visit, his first to India since 2011, should have been a crowning moment in the city’s football culture.
Instead, glaring gaps in planning and execution marring the event came to light. High expectations, aggressive marketing, and inadequate logistics proved to be a dangerous combo. The passion of the fans, when met with poor organisation, exploded in volatility that called into question how big sporting events are organised in this country.
Online Backlash and the Cost of Misplaced Anger
Probably the most distressing consequence of the fiasco was the cyberbullying people like Subhashree Ganguly continued to suffer. Instead of holding the organisers responsible, sections of social media targeted celebrities who went there. The harassment crossed all limits when her children became targets—mandatory warning signs of how toxic online outrage can become.
Subhashree’s ordeal reignited debates around cyberbullying, accountability of celebrities, and the urgent need for more stringent action against online threats. It also shows how misinformation and misplaced anger spiral into actual harm.
Lessons from the ‘Messi Mess’ The Kolkata episode is a key lesson on India’s fan culture and events management ecosystem. Passion in sport is strength; it needs to be matched by professionalism, transparency, and respect for safety. Mega events featuring global icons need detailed planning, honest communication with fans, and zero tolerance for lapses.
As the dust settles on this ill-fated tour, it is clear that the GOAT India Tour 2025 will be remembered much less for the presence of Messi and much more about what went wrong in the surroundings. For followers, organizers, or authorities, this incident is a recollection that admiration for a sporting hero should never go down to chaos or cruelty.