Former Mohun Bagan Player ‘Blessed’ To Touch Messi’s ‘Magical Left Foot’

Kolkata, known as the spiritual capital of Indian football, experienced a never-before situation on Saturday as Argentine superstar Lionel Messi arrived for the highly awaited GOAT India Tour. The prestigious exhibition fixture, Mohun Bagan Messi XI vs Diamond Harbour Messi XI, at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, quickly transformed into a scene of hysteria among the fans. Nonetheless, Mohun Bagan veteran Dipendu Biswas, a former Indian international, concluded his memorable day with a ‘holy’ experience: shaking hands with the ‘magical left foot’ of the football legend.

The Argentine World Cup-winning skipper, who is on a whirlwind three-day tour of India with his friends Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, arrived in the city as part of the inaugural leg of his Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour.

The Moment of a Lifetime for a Mohun Bagan Player

Inside the stadium, amidst tight security and surging crowds, few former players got the opportunity to meet the global icon up close. Dipendu Biswas, who was a part of the Mohun Bagan Messi XI lineup, shared his overwhelming experience with the media.

The jersey bears Messi's signature on the left, Suarez's on the right, and Rodrigo De Paul's in the centre. But the most prized, of course, was a moment of pure reverence for the footballer whom most consider the GOAT.

Biswas said he felt blessed to touch Messi's magical left foot. This emotional encounter with the living legend, who is often termed by fans as GOAT worldwide, stood apart even for Biswas, who, as a veteran, has previously collected autographed items from legends like Pele and Maradona.

The GOAT Tour Continues

The Kolkata stop of the Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour was designed to be a grand celebration, featuring the exhibition match Mohun Bagan Messi XI vs Diamond Harbour Messi XI. Despite the excitement, the event was unfortunately overshadowed by security lapses and massive crowd mismanagement.

The atmosphere, which had been electric as fans were eager to see Lionel Messi in Kolkata, quickly turned hostile after the global star's brief appearance was cut short. The memorable interaction between the Mohun Bagan player and Messi served as a personal, bright spot in a day otherwise defined by frustration and organisational failure.

The Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour is set to continue after the Kolkata stop, with enhanced security. Messi, Suarez, and De Paul will travel to Hyderabad for a 7v7 match and concert, then to Mumbai for the Padel GOAT Cup, a celebrity match, and a charity fashion show. The tour concludes in New Delhi with an event at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Despite the initial difficult start, the moment the Mohun Bagan player meets Messi remains a profoundly humbling highlight.