Messi’s India Visit: From Airport Discipline to Viral Football Moments

LIONEL MESSI, widely regarded as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of world football, visited India and created huge excitement across international media, national news and social media platforms. 

Every moment of his journey was closely followed, and even a single photograph with him became something priceless for fans. One such moment came from a South Indian airport, where Messi was seen undergoing routine security checks.

In the photograph, Messi appears calm and simply dressed in a white T-shirt, dark track trousers and trainers. Despite being a global football icon, he patiently stood on the screening platform. The CISF personnel around him looked alert and professional. The frisking was reportedly carried out by Mr Kapmawi Gangte, a CISF guard from Lamka in Outer Manipur. The image strongly reflected discipline and equality before rules — showing that even the world’s greatest footballer must follow security procedures. This moment went viral and became a proud occasion for the people of Lamka.

Football lovers from Kuki-Zo community, including several local footballers and a local fan known as “Thangkhal Messi”, also travelled with friends to New Delhi on Monday, 15 December 2025, to witness the historic visit in Arun Jaitley Stadium. 

Young Khalvontawis fans of the GOAT, Lionel Messi, attended the event with great happiness and excitement. Alex Hangminlian, also known as “Messi Thangkhal”, told KV News that the ticket for four persons cost Rs 26,384, adding, “So you can guess how expensive it was.”

In another viral photograph, Messi was seen posing for a cheerful selfie with India’s national football captain SunilChhetri, along with Manipur football stars Chinglensana Singh and BalaDevi, a renowned Meitei woman footballer. The image, taken on the field with a packed stadium in the background, was widely shared and praised for highlighting the contribution of Manipur to Indian football.

While Messi’s Kolkata visit reportedly faced crowd mismanagement and chaos despite a grand statue built in his honour, reports from South India remained largely positive. Together, these viral moments showed humility, discipline and unity through football, bringing pride and joy to fans across Manipur and the country.

*Photos via social media*

~ KHALVONTAWI NEWS

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