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Monday, January 5, 2026
TopicLionel Messi

Topic: Lionel Messi

West Bengal is almost beyond redemption. Messi’s visit exposed the long decay

The attempt is to keep talking about culture, arts, sociology, politics and an imagined Bengali identity. All of this, however, rests on an extremely rickety economic base.

‘An injustice,’ says Bengali actor Subhashree Ganguly as Messi photos trigger online abuse

In a video on Instagram, Bengali actor Subhashree Ganguly addressed the online abuse targeted at her after she posted photos of herself with Lionel Messi at Salt Lake Stadium.

‘I met Messi’ was the headline of the GOAT tour. Football and fans were ignored

Perhaps the clearest indicator of how shallow the tour was lies in how Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul were treated. These aren’t random names.

Messi mania in Delhi: Fans pull all-nighters to see the GOAT, tight checks to avoid Kolkata-like fiasco

Fans of the Argentine legend like Alben, 24, who stood in 3 km-long queues, have called the Delhi crowd and the management 'much better' than Kolkata.

Crowd chants ‘Messi’ ahead of footballer’s visit to Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium

While the Argentine legend's Kolkata outing for his GOAT India Tour was marred by chaos, the Hyderabad and Mumbai legs of the tour proceeded smoothly.

ThePrint photos of the week: Gujarat’s hybrid coconuts to a Messi chaos & a jumbo protest

New Delhi: This week in photos, ThePrint brings together images of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi paying tribute to security...

What a mess! Cops detain organiser of Messi tour, Mamata apologises for chaos at Kolkata stadium

Lionel Messi was invited to Kolkata as part of his multicity GOAT India Tour 2025. As fans went on rampage at Salt Lake Stadium, police resorted to a lathi-charge to restore order.

Lionel Messi lands in India, Shah Rukh Khan to join GOAT Tour 2025 in Kolkata

Messi, who will be unveiling his 70-foot tall statue in Kolkata, will also go to Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi as part of the tour.

Delays & ‘shady deals’: All about Kerala govt, sponsor ‘Messi-ng’ up Argentina football team tour

Reporter Broadcasting Company, the sponsor, meanwhile, is looking for next window in March to bring the football great and Argentina team to Kerala.

‘Ronaldinho must have said positive things to Messi about India,’ says GOAT India tour organiser

As part of the GOAT India Tour 2025, which will begin on 13 December, Messi will visit Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi, with the organisers planning to add Ahmedabad to the list.

On Camera

Trump is tying his legacy to whatever happens in Venezuela

A bad turn in Venezuela would raise the same questions that have dogged the unlawful US strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean: Why now, and why at all?

Wall Street carries big expectations this year after best run since 2009

The concern is not that 2025’s rally was irrational, but that it may be difficult to repeat. Outlooks remain anchored to AI investment and growth without reigniting inflation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.