Angry fans tore up seats and threw objects onto the pitch after Messi appeared at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
Thousands of admirers paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to catch a glimpse of the football star but were disappointed when he emerged walking around the pitch and was obscured by a swarm of officials and celebrities.
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After about 20 minutes, the Argentina and Inter Miami forward was taken away early by security and some in the crowd became hostile.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “deeply disturbed and shocked” by the incidents.
When it became clear Messi’s appearance was over, local media said the scene turned ugly [Reuters]
Messi comes to India for his ‘goat’ [greatest of all time] Tour”, a series of promotional events held in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
His tour began with the unveiling of a 70-foot (21 m) statue of himself in Calcutta, which was assembled by a crew of 45 over the course of 27 days. Messi was actually present at the event due to security concerns.
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Thousands of fans traveled to the city’s stadiums for a chance to see the footballer in person.
They chanted slogans, bought jerseys and wore “I love Messi” headbands.
Messi initially walked out of the stadium to wave to fans, but after his appearance came to an abrupt end on Saturday, some frustrated fans stormed the pitch, destroying banners and tents, while others threw plastic chairs and water bottles.
The 2022 World Cup winner, considered one of the greatest players in football history, had been expected to play a brief exhibition match at the stadium, according to AFP.
“Only leaders and actors are surrounding Messi… why are they calling us… We bought a ticket for 12,000 rupees but we couldn’t even see his face,” a fan at the stadium told Indian news agency ANI.
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One angry fan told the Press Trust of India news agency that people were paying the equivalent of a month’s salary to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“I paid 5,000 rupees for a ticket to watch Messi with my son, not a politician.
“Police and soldiers are taking selfies and management should be blamed.”
Messi made the brief visit accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates, Uruguayan star Luis Suarez and Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul.
According to Reuters, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan also met Messi earlier in the day.
Kolkata is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and has a large number of football fans in this cricket-loving country.
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It is common in the city for hundreds of thousands of fans to gather at stadiums to watch local clubs’ derbies.
The BBC has contacted representatives for Lionel Messi for comment.
Banerjee announced an investigation and apologized to Messi and “sports fans” for the incident at the stadium.
“this [enquiry] The committee will conduct a detailed investigation into the incident, determine responsibility and recommend measures to prevent such incidents from happening again in the future. “
A police official told reporters that the “main organizer” of the event had been arrested, but did not provide any further details, AFP reported.
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The official added that authorities would look into how organizers could refund ticket buyers.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) said it was not involved in the “private event”.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, thousands of people lined the roads and gathered outside Messi’s hotel to try to catch a glimpse of him.
Hitesh, a 24-year-old corporate lawyer, flew nearly 1,900 kilometers from the southern Indian city of Bangalore.
“For me it’s a personal thing. You can see I’m short and I like playing football with my friends,” Hitesh told the BBC as he stood in front of the statue.
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“Messi is the player I resonate with the most. No one can match his talent. He gives me hope that as long as you have talent, you can do anything.”
This is just a small part of the tributes India has paid to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker.
Fans can also visit the “Hola Messi” fan zone, which features a life-size replica of Messi sitting on a throne, a hall decorated with some of his trophies, and a recreation of his home in Miami, with mannequins of the player and his family on the balcony.