Virat Kohli’s India return fuels buzz around possible Lionel Messi meet

Published - 13 Dec 2025, 20:39 IST | Updated - 13 Dec 2025, 20:41 IST

Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli has returned to India as legendary footballer Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated GOAT India Tour gets underway. Kohli was spotted arriving in Mumbai alongside his wife, Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, shortly after the conclusion of India’s three-match ODI series against South Africa, following which the star batter had travelled overseas.

Kohli’s return has immediately sparked speculation among fans over a possible meeting between the two global sporting icons. Messi landed in Kolkata on December 13 and is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on December 14, where he will attend a fan interaction event at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. With both stars present in Mumbai at the same time, social media has been abuzz with anticipation of a potential Kohli-Messi meet-up, something fans across cricket and football circles have long hoped to witness.

However, Messi’s first day in India did not unfold as planned. Thousands of fans had gathered at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium hoping to catch a glimpse of the Argentine superstar, but were left disappointed after Messi reportedly exited the venue within ten minutes of arriving. The brief appearance sparked frustration among the crowd, which eventually escalated into unrest inside the stadium.

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Eyewitnesses revealed that Messi was unable to complete his planned lap around the ground due to severe congestion. As soon as he stepped onto the field, he was surrounded by politicians, event officials, celebrities, their family members and an overwhelming number of photographers. The situation quickly became unmanageable, forcing Messi’s security team to abandon the lap entirely, severely limiting his interaction with the general public.

As news spread through the stadium that Messi would not remain on the field for long, tensions began to rise among fans. Many had arrived early in the morning and paid premium ticket prices in the hope of a memorable experience. When Messi departed the field in under ten minutes, sections of the crowd reacted angrily, questioning the event’s planning and crowd management.

Bottles were reportedly thrown, hoardings were damaged and security personnel were forced to intervene as protests broke out inside the venue. The incident has raised concerns over event organisation and fan access during high-profile international tours, especially involving global superstars like Lionel Messi.