The G.O.A.T India tour of Football legend Lionel Messi has been in the news for the past few days for a number of reasons, including the real mess it created in Kolkata, and the celebrities meeting him which has enraged the netizens. The even becoming a celebrity frenzy one has angered the football fans, and internet equally. They have questioned the intent of the organisers, questioning why the entire plan has been turned into something which is only for the actors or VVIPs.
Lionel Messi began his G.O.A.T India tour from Kolkata, where the mismanagement led to a huge ruckus with fans even throwing chairs in the stadium. They complained that all the VVIPs, politicians kept surrounding Messi, hardly giving an opportunity to the crowd to see a great football star.
While there was no chaos at Hyderabad and Mumbai, the crowd was not happy seeing celebrities meeting Messi, and according to them, hampering the entire event.
The mess of Messi event
Several actors including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff were among the celebrities who met Argentine footballer Lionel Messi. Messi arrived in India on December 13 and went to Kolkata on the same day. In multiple videos and photos on social media, the actors were seen interacting with the football star.
Kareen Kapoor Khan, along with her sons Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan, also shared a series of pictures on her Instagram handle ahead of the event. Actress Shipa Shetty also met the footballer.
However, the same has not gone well with the internet and fans. A user also complained about Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri getting “due respect”. In a post on X, the user said it was just not right and the jersey with Messi’s name on it was not in line with the achievements he has secured in his career.
“As an Indian, this does not feel satisfying at all. Our legend Sunil Chhetri deserved far more respect. Making him wear an active player’s jersey, that too a messy one with “Maha deva Messi” written on it, is honestly disappointing. When celebrities with zero football knowledge and zero achievements get treated with class, but the greatest Indian footballer is handled like this, it hurts. Sunil Chhetri is a legacy. Whoever planned this had no sense of football, no sense of respect, and no understanding of what he means to Indian sports,” he said.
On a user’s question why actor John Abraham, who follows football……., wasn’t invited, another said that when celebrities are busy clicking pictures with Messi, there is no need of another one joining the league.
In Mumbai, the crowd booed even Tendulkar, who was standing beside Tiger Shroff and others.
Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, also met Messi. Sharing a video on X, a user said a football star made to meet Indian politicians and film stars has nothing to do with football.
“A football star comes to India. He is made to meet politicians, their wives, filmstars, bureaucrats, businessmen – people have absolutely nothing to do with football. This tour was to introduce Messi to organised stupidity, something he might not have come across in his life,” the post read.
‘Dark chapter for Bengali football fans’
As for what happened in Kolkata, users highlighted how the management and the government did not invite football legends, and instead sent politicians for the event, which was supposed to be one for the fans of the sport.
“Mumbai set the benchmark with Messi sharing the stage with Sunil Chhetri. Kolkata, however, couldn’t even bring legends like Baichung Bhutia, choosing instead to spotlight cheap celebrities and plunging the event into chaos. A dark chapter for Bengali football fans!” a user mentioned on X.
Another slammed the VVIP culture and asked “Why is this meet and greet with VVIP’s being hailed as some kind of National Achievement of India?”
Messi’s last leg of the ‘GOAT India tour’ in on Monday (Dec 15), at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley stadium.