Hola, La Pulga: Messi mania peaks as Kol decks up for reunion with legend after 14 yrs
Times of India | 13 December 2025
Kolkata: As the city waited with bated breath for its reunion with Lionel Messi after a gap of 14 long years, the atmosphere around the Salt Lake stadium turned carnivalesque. From early Friday morning, crowds began gathering outside the stadium, many hoping to secure last-minute tickets while others queued patiently to pick up physical copies of bookings they made days earlier. The stadium will be able to accommodate around 75,000 people.
"We came here straight after college," said Arpita Ghosh, 19, who stood with her friends in the ticket collection queue. "We booked the tickets days in advance as we feared they would sell out quickly."
There was a surge in Messi-themed merchandise, as pavements near gates 1 to 5 teemed with makeshift merchandise stalls that cropped up through the day. The sellers, some of whom usually operate in different markets, shifted base to Salt Lake hoping to catch the wave of enthusiasm. Ramesh Laha, who brought in two bundles of Argentina jerseys from a Burrabazar wholesaler, said business beat all expectations. "I thought Friday would be a warm-up," he said, waving a stack of posters. "But I have already sold almost everything. People are picking up jerseys, stickers, even small flags. I will be back early on Saturday morning with more stock."
Fans without tickets also made the trip simply to soak in the atmosphere. Groups of Messi fans posed for photos in front of the stadium gate, while various fan clubs put up posters of Messi on gates and guardrails.
"I have come all the way from Siliguri to watch Messi. I arrived this morning and came directly to the stadium to collect my ticket," said Arka Ghosh, a share broker in Siliguri. Cops also increased deployment around the stadium as crowds thickened. Additional personnel were positioned at all major gates, the service roads, and the ticket counters. Cops have banned the display of Tifo or use of drums, megaphone and smoke candle during the event. The programme will start from 10am, the stadium gates will open at 7am.
Inside the stadium, the final round of preparations carried on until late evening on Friday. Signage were placed at various points of the stadium and seating arrangements were spruced up. Ground staff worked on stage fittings and some participants carried out rehearsals. "There is a lot of enthusiasm and we are expecting a full house on Saturday. We are making adequate arrangements," said an organising committee team member.