Kolkata is currently at the heart of football frenzy. The city is buzzing with one name Lionel Messi. Long before the Argentine superstar’s arrival, excitement has been building among fans and ISL footballers alike. That wave of enthusiasm has swept into the Mohun Bagan Super Giant training ground as well.
On Thursday, after the training session, Australian World Cupper Jason Cummings jokingly asked the reporters waiting outside, “Has Messi arrived already?” Many of his teammates also echoed the same curiosity. The reason is simple—Messi is expected to stay in the same hotel where the foreign players of Mohun Bagan currently reside. Hearing this, another Australian, Dimitri Petratos, laughed and said, “Wish I could share a room with Messi!”
On the same day, Mohun Bagan officially began a new chapter under Spanish coach Sergio Lobera. He conducted a rigorous 90-minute training session on his very first day. However, Liston Colaco and Sahal Abdul Samad were absent due to personal reasons, while Apuiya missed training because of fever.
Interestingly, while the players were buzzing with Messi mania, Lobera remained completely calm. Having been the assistant coach at Barcelona in 2012, he once coached Messi himself. But when asked about his former student’s visit to Kolkata, the new Mohun Bagan head coach chose to remain tight-lipped.
The long wait is finally coming to an end, as Lionel Messi is set to arrive in Kolkata just after midnight on 11 December. The city is preparing to welcome the World Cup-winning captain with grand celebrations.
On Saturday, the excitement in Kolkata will reach its peak as the Youth Bharati Stadium prepares to host one of the biggest football events in the city’s recent history. Amid growing speculation about whether Shah Rukh Khan will share the stage with Messi, the Bollywood icon confirmed the news on Thursday.
On social media, Shah Rukh wrote: “No plans with the Knights this time in Kolkata. The day belongs entirely to Messi. See you on the 13th at Salt Lake Stadium.”
This means fans will witness both Messi and Shah Rukh on the same stage—an early Christmas gift for the people of Bengal. Also expected to attend the event are Sourav Ganguly, Leander Paes, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with several other dignitaries.
Messi’s arrival is more than just a football moment—it is an emotion, a celebration deeply intertwined with Kolkata’s culture, passion, and history.