Key financial details of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi’s three-day “GOAT Tour of India” have come to light. The event’s chief organiser, Sthadro Dutta, revealed that Messi was unhappy due to repeated attempts by people to touch and hug him during the event.
According to foreign media reports, investigations are ongoing into serious security lapses and chaos that occurred during the event held in Kolkata. Speaking to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Dutta stated that the total cost of Messi’s India visit amounted to approximately INR 100 crore.
He disclosed that Lionel Messi was paid INR 89 crore for the tour, while INR 11 crore was paid as tax to the Indian government, bringing the total expenditure to INR 100 crore.
Sources added that around 30 percent of the amount was generated through sponsorships, while another 30 percent came from ticket sales.
SIT officials further revealed that during the December 13 event at Salt Lake Stadium, foreign security personnel had already warned organisers that Messi did not want any physical contact. Despite repeated announcements, the crowd became uncontrollable, forcing Messi to leave the stadium earlier than scheduled.
Media reports also claimed that West Bengal’s Sports Minister Aroop Biswas was seen close to Messi and allegedly held him around the waist during photo sessions. He is accused of using his influence to grant relatives and close associates access to the football star. Following mounting criticism, Aroop Biswas resigned from his post as Sports Minister until the investigation is completed.
