Stay updated with the latest association-football news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on association-football topics.
Messi Kolkata Event Chaos: West Bengal Sports Minister and senior TMC leader Aroop Biswas resigned from his position in a letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee following the mismanagement at Lionel Messi's event on December 13, 2025. The Minister had been the main target of criticism from all quarters, including civil society and opposition parties, over the chaos at Salt Lake Stadium last week. Biswas on Tuesday submitted his resignation, taking moral responsibility for the lapses in manag ...Read More >
The turn of events led to a loss of face for West Bengal before the entire world, the petitioner alleged Ripples of Saturday's Salt Lake stadium spectator rampage during Argentine football legend Lionel Messi showcasing event reached the corridors of the Calcutta High Court on Monday after Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Pal allowed the filing of three separate PILs related to the fiasco. The petitions sought the court's intervention to transfer the probe into the stadium violence to central agenci ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Football legend Lionel Messi on Tuesday departed Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, bringing the curtain down on his much-celebrated GOAT India Tour 2025. Hosted by Anant Ambani at Vantara, the visit marked Messi's final stop before his exit from the country, capping a tour that drew massive crowds and unprecedented attention across four major Indian cities.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Jamnagar followed a whi ...Read More >
New Delhi: Football great Lionel Messi seems to have extended his stay in India beyond his GOAT tour to visit Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Footage of the Argentine captain along with Luis Suárez, reaching Jamnagar amid tight security, was shared by news agency ANI. Messi and his teammates will be the latest in a long list of global dignitaries to visit the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility, set up by Ambani scion Anant. Donald Trump Jr, son of US president Donald Trump, visited Vant ...Read More >
Jamnagar (Gujarat) [India], December 16 (ANI): Football legend Lionel Messi on Tuesday departed from Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, where the Argentine footballer was hosted by Anant Ambani. Jamnagar marked the final stop of Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, which saw the Argentine footballer visit four Indian cities--Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. Delhi hosted the grand finale of the Argentine footballer's India tour, bringing the historic fo ...Read More >
An awkward moment unfolded at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium when sections of the crowd booed as Tiger Shroff and Ajay Devgn were felicitated during Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour event. The reaction appeared to stem from fans' impatience, as many had gathered primarily to see the football legend. Football legend Lionel Messi recently attended an event at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday in Mumbai. The event was also graced by Bollywood actors Tiger Shroff and Ajay Devgn. While fans cheered for the actor ...Read More >
New Delhi: A social media post by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has gone viral after he poked fun at Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's on-field moment with football icon Lionel Messi during an exhibition match in Hyderabad. The match, held on December 14 as part of Messi's GOAT India Tour, featured Reddy attempting to pass the ball to the Argentine legend at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Rijiju shared a video clip from the event, captioned with the line, "It's totally messed up! ...Read More >
The Athletic FC ⚽ is The Athletic's daily football (or soccer, if you prefer) newsletter.Sign up to receive it directly to your inbox. Hello! Lionel Messi and a GOAT tour to India. What could possibly go wrong? He's a week on from winning MLS Cup with Inter Miami after three years of trying. His run to the final generated record TV viewing figures. He's headed towards his sixth World Cup, and despite his modesty, there's not a chance that he misses it, unless his body gives out. First stop f ...Read More >
Messi landed in Kolkata at 01:30 local time. Thousands lined the roads and congregated outside his hotel to catch a glimpse of him. The day began with the meet-and-greet ticket holders first up from 09:00 to 10:30. Then the day took a strange twist. A 70ft statue of Messi lifting the World Cup was unveiled by the former Barcelona icon. But he was not present - it was a virtual unveiling. He was on a video screen and pressed a button on a remote control. At this point a blue sheet dropped to ...Read More >
New Delhi: Traffic movement is expected to be affected across central Delhi on Monday as football icon Lionel Messi visits the capital for the Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour. He is expected to be at Arun Jaitley Stadium.Authorities have also stepped up security arrangements ahead of the event.Diversions and restrictions will be imposed on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and JLN Marg. Heavy vehicles will not be allowed on roads from Daryaganj to Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and from Guru Nanak Chowk to Asaf Ali R ...Read More >
Memories in midst of Madness: Dipendu Biswas, Syed Rahim Nabi get jerseys autographed IMAGE: Dipendu Biswas, who represented the Mohun Bagan Messi XI in the exhibition match against the Diamond Harbour Messi XI, was among the few who walked away with memories to cherish forever. Photograph: ANI Photo Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour began amid chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, but for former India players Dipendu Biswas and Syed Rahim Nabi, it still turned into the moment of a lifetime in ...Read More >
KOLKATA, Dec 15: Fresh details from eyewitness accounts, videos and photographs circulating on social media and television channels point to a serious security breach and lapses in crowd management during Argentine football icon Lionel Messi's brief appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium here, raising questions over planning and coordination. According to multiple eyewitnesses who were present close to the field, Messi appeared visibly uncomfortable moments after stepping out of his vehicle near t ...Read More >
Chaos unfolded at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, after spectators resorted to vandalism on failing to catch a glimpse of Messi, alleging gross mismanagement by the organisers and obstruction of views by VIPs. Kolkata, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, wrote to Governor C V Ananda Bose, seeking an independent judicial inquiry into "administrative incompetence" and "public humiliation of citizens" at the Salt Lake Stadium here during an event featuring footba ...Read More >
West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose called the recent chaos during Lionel Messi's event a management failure. He stated the incident hurt football lovers and undermined common man dignity. The Governor will submit a pro-people report to the Centre and give suggestions to the state government. He also directed a judicial inquiry and refund of ticket prices. Kolkata: West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Monday termed the recent chaos during Lionel Messi's event at the Salt Lake stadium here a ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Argentine football great Lionel Messi along with his fellow World Cup-winning compatriot Rodrigo de Paul and former Uruguay star Luis Suarez enthralled football fans at Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Monday. Hordes of fans who packed the stadium and waited for Messi for several hours, braving the chilly weather and poor air quality, lustily cheered as Messi and the two footballers entered the stadium. The cheers of "Messi, Messi" perhaps somewhat compensated for the chaot ...Read More >
Jamnagar (Gujarat) [India], December 15 (ANI): Football icon Lionel Messi, along with Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul, and other members of the GOAT India Tour arrived in Jamnagar on Monday, where the Argentine star is scheduled to visit Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, and will be hosted by Anant Ambani. New Delhi hosted the grand finale of Lionel Messi's "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025", bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth and successful closure amid immense fan enthusiasm ...Read More >
New Delhi: A 90-minute delay, a persistent smoky haze and an AQI upwards of 450 did little to dim the enthusiasm of a 25,000-strong crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as football's global superstar Lionel Messi descended on the national capital to wind up his whirlwind three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour on Monday. On a day that saw the city gasping under severe pollution that threw air traffic completely out of gear, Messi's chartered flight from Mumbai landed after a significant delay, pushin ...Read More >
Jamnagar (Gujarat) [India], December 15 (ANI): Football icon Lionel Messi, along with Suarez, Rodrigo De Paul, and other members of the GOAT India Tour arrived in Jamnagar on Monday, where the Argentine star is scheduled to visit Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, and will be hosted by Anant Ambani. New Delhi hosted the grand finale of Lionel Messi's "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025", bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth and successful closure amid immense fan enthusiasm ...Read More >
Jammu, Dec 15 (PTI) Protests were held on Monday by two organisations in Jammu city alleging discrimination against the region in the selection of the Santosh Trophy football squad by the Sports Council and demanding the scrapping of the list. Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma assured a time-bound and impartial inquiry into the Santosh Trophy team selection, a day after the BJP alleged discrimination against the Jammu region and demanded his resignation. Two organisations -- Shiv ...Read More >
New Delhi: The G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025 of Lionel Messi, one of the world's greatest footballers, concluded in Delhi amid immense excitement among his fans. Bad weather delayed Messi's flight, but the moment the Argentine legend set foot in Delhi, the excitement reached its peak. Messi, along with his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez and Argentina's Rodrigo de Paul, arrived in Delhi in a charter flight from Mumbai. Tight security arrangements were in place throughout the city for his arrival, e ...Read More >
Messi In India: It turned into a memorable day for football fans at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium as Argentina icon Lionel Messi visited the city during his 'GOAT India Tour 2025' and shared moments with Indian football great Sunil Chhetri and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. A video going viral on social media captured a packed Mumbai local train compartment overflowing with Lionel Messi fans, all buzzing with excitement. The supporters, dressed in jerseys and chanting passionately, were tr ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): New Delhi hosted the grand finale of Lionel Messi's "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025" on December 15, bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth and successful closure amid immense fan enthusiasm. Marking Messi's second visit to India, the tour was spearheaded by leading Indian sports promoter Satadru Dutta through his company, A Satadru Dutta Initiative, with a focus on inspiring young footballers and reinforcing India's emergence as a destination for globa ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): New Delhi hosted the grand finale of Lionel Messi's "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025" on December 15, bringing the historic four-city tour to a smooth and successful closure amid immense fan enthusiasm. Marking Messi's second visit to India, the tour was spearheaded by leading Indian sports promoter Satadru Dutta through his company, A Satadru Dutta Initiative, with a focus on inspiring young footballers and reinforcing India's emergence as a destination for globa ...Read More >
IMAGE: Argentina and Inter Miami's Lionel Messi at the stadium during his tour of India. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters The Lionel Messi G.O.A.T. India Tour that began in shambolic fashion ended in a blaze of glory as devotional fans joyously gathered to catch a glimpse of a man that does things on the field that are often beyond human comprehension. Most importantly, the much-publicised and anticipated event had the ending it wanted, after a chaotic beginning in Kolkata on the tour's first s ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared some snippets from Lionel Messi's event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Monday. The Argentine legend Messi, along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, visited Delhi after events in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai. During Messi's event in Delhi, ICC chairman Jay Shah presented jerseys of the Indian Cricket team to star footballers. Messi, De Paul and Suarez also met Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gup ...Read More >
Kolkata, Dec 15 (SocialNews.XYZ) The individuals arrested in connection with the vandalism at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake during the Lionel Messi event on Monday claimed before a court that they were themselves victims of the incident. Their lawyers raised this contention during the hearing and sought bail for the accused on any conditions. However, the court rejected their bail applications. As of Monday afternoon, five persons have been arrested in connection with the violence and ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15 (PTI) The Lionel Messi G.O.A.T. India Tour that began in shambolic fashion ended in a blaze of glory as the football icon promised to return after giving his fans a lifetime of memories in just 30 minutes here on Monday. For a change, it was football that took centre stage at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium as devotional fans joyously gathered to catch a glimpse of a man that does things on the field that are often beyond human comprehension. The Messi mania reached a fever ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 15 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta welcomed football icons Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, marking the final leg of Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025. Along with CM Rekha Gupta, ICC Chairman Jay Shah and DDCA President Rohan Jaitley were also present at the event. The interaction between Lionel Messi and Shah was a warm exchange of gestures, with the ICC Chairman presenting Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Pau ...Read More >
New Delhi: It's not known whether Lionel Messi knows about cricket. But when the football GOAT is in India, how can he avoid a brush with cricket? He met cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar at the Wankhede Stadium during the Mumbai leg of GOAT Tour on Sunday. On Monday, Messi's presence thrilled fans at Delhi's Arun Jaitly Stadium. A day after receiving Tendulkar's 2011 World Cup-winning jersey, the football magician from Argentina and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul wer ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Football icon Lionel Messi wrapped up his three-day India tour with a tour of Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium to roars of applause from thousands of fans who braved the chill and foggy air to get a glimpse of their favourite sports superstar. The cheers at the soccer stadium somewhat compensated perhaps for the chaotic opening of the Messi tour in Kolkata. As the football legends stepped onto the field, they greeted local Indian players with handshakes and warm smiles, tri ...Read More >
Stay updated with the latest None news, articles, and insights from trusted sources. Explore in-depth coverage and expert analysis on None topics.