Raw images of India's Messi fever: 70ft statue, flags, posters, queue and unconditional love

Kolkata's preparation as the city prepares to welcome Lionel Messi on the first day of his GOAT India Tour 2025.

Published on: Dec 13, 2025 8:29 AM IST

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Children play football during the final presentation ahead of Football legend Lionel Messi's visit, at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Friday. (Debajyoti Chakraborty )

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Partially covered 70-feet statue of Lionel Messi, to be unveiled by the World Cup winning star during his visit to Kolkata. (PTI)

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Display of Lionel Messi's posters and all his awards in the exhibition by a fan club in Salt Lake, Kolkata. (Hindustan Times)

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Exhibition of Lionel Messi's golden boot replicas in Salt Lake, Kolkata by a fan club. (Hindustan Times)

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An installation view of an exhibition on footballer Lionel Messi at Aikyatan by a Fan Club ahead of his Kolkata vist at Salt Lake in Kolkata (Hindustan Times)

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Football fans cheer on the eve of Lionel Messi's 'GOAT Tour India 2025' at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium, in Kolkata. (PTI)

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Artist Swapan Kumar Das draws a portrait of Argentine footballer and 2022 FIFA World Cup winning captain Lionel Messi ahead of his visit, in Kolkata, West Bengal, (PTI)

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A street vendor in Kolkata sells  Lionel Messi's jerseys ahead of his visit to the city as part of the 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025. (PTI)

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Young fans in Kolkata carry posters of Lionel Messi, on the eve of his visit: an evidence of the craze around his GOAT tour (AFP)