Lionel Messi allegedly felt 'uncomfortable' while VIPs swarmed him, sparks GOAT Tour 2025 backlash with fans saying 'this was for politicians not fans' in Kolkata

Nillohit Bagchi | Dec 13, 2025, 20:05 IST

X/@vivekgurung_658 | A viral clip claims Lionel Messi felt uncomfortable with the constant pulling and touching by VIPs during his brief Kolkata appearance

( Image credit : X/@vivekgurung_658 | A viral clip claims Lionel Messi felt uncomfortable with the constant pulling and touching by VIPs during his brief Kolkata appearance )

A viral clip claims Lionel Messi felt uncomfortable with the constant pulling and touching by VIPs during his brief Kolkata appearance.

A viral video claiming to show Lionel Messi speaking about the chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium has ignited a fresh wave of outrage across India. The clip suggests the World Cup winner felt uncomfortable during his GOAT Tour appearance because of constant pulling and touching by actors politicians and VIP guests who surrounded him from the moment he stepped onto the pitch.

Fans who waited hours for a glimpse of their hero say the mismanagement robbed them of a once in a lifetime moment. As anger grows online the debate around VIP culture and poor planning is louder than ever.

Viral clip claims Messi felt 'uncomfortable'

Messi’s arrival was greeted with tears cheers and chants as fans packed the stadium hoping for a long memorable interaction. Instead the football icon barely stayed twenty minutes and was surrounded almost entirely by VIPs blocking the view for thousands who paid high ticket prices.

Embarrassing, to say the least. pic.twitter.com/To1fsROPtU

— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) December 13, 2025

One fan said, “We paid thousands but did not even see his face.” The video now circulating widely suggests Messi privately expressed discomfort after the event. “I felt uncomfortable with the constant pulling and touching by actors and politicians. It was mismanaged and I wanted to connect with the fans but security had to pull me out early,” the clip claims he said. His team has not officially confirmed the statement but the clip has triggered massive discussion online.

( Image credit : X/@pintudas_27 | The video now circulating widely suggests Messi privately expressed discomfort after the event )

Fans say VIP culture ruined everything

Anger erupted on social media with many blaming politicians actors and officials for crowding Messi and turning the event into a personal photo session. One viral reaction read, “VIPs hogged Messi for selfies while the real fans got nothing. Shame.”

messi will never come back to India. F1 will never come back to india. MotoGP will never come back to india. The politicians have & will keep ruining everything ✨

— Hetal (@heyytal) December 13, 2025

Another user said, “Messi looked so confused and uncomfortable. This was not how India should welcome him.”

( Image credit : X/@footballfreakyy26 | Anger erupted on social media with many blaming politicians actors and officials )

Heartbreaking fan stories go viral

A supporter wrote, “I skipped my own wedding ceremonies for Messi. But I couldn’t see him at all.” The post crossed seventeen thousand likes and became symbolic of the disappointment many fans felt after spending money and waiting for hours in packed stands.

🚨🚨🎙️| A fan of Lionel Messi:

"Only leaders and actors were surrounding Messi...Why did they call us then... We have got a ticket for 12 thousand, but we were not even able to see his face..."

pic.twitter.com/08bDzrnJNC

— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) December 13, 2025

Fans strongly criticised the VIP crowd that filled the field making it impossible for Messi to connect with supporters or complete the planned lap of honour. A popular X post read, “Politicians turned a historic moment into a photo op. Messi deserved better.”

Government responds as outrage grows

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issued a public apology saying she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the mismanagement. She announced an inquiry into what went wrong and vowed that fans would receive refunds.

( Image credit : X/@kheloindiafootball_2 | Event organiser Satadru Dutta was detained soon after and questioned by police )

Event organiser Satadru Dutta was detained soon after and questioned by police regarding crowd control failures and planning issues. Despite the chaos supporters continue to defend Messi saying he was not responsible for the event’s failure. One post summed up the mood, “We love you Leo. Sorry for the mess Kolkata made.” Many now hope the next legs of the tour in Hyderabad Mumbai and Delhi will be handled better.

The road ahead for the GOAT Tour

The incident has sparked wider conversations about VIP dominance at public events and the need for better event management in India. For fans the hope remains simple. As one comment read, “Just let Messi meet the people who love him. Not the people who want photos.”