A photo with Messi costs 10 lakh rupees; fans joke 'AI-generated pic with Messi, Just ₹0

Kolkata (Uttam Hindu News): The India tour of Lionel Messi, known as the God of Football, has been surrounded by headlines and controversies as soon as it started. The legendary Argentine footballer reached Kolkata early on Saturday morning under the 'GOAT India Tour 2025', but his visit brought more disappointment than happiness for the fans. Football lovers across the country were excited with the news of Messi's arrival and a crowd of thousands gathered from the airport to the hotel. However, citing security reasons, Messi was taken directly inside through a secret route, due to which the fans who were waiting for hours did not get even a glimpse of him. Due to this, the excitement of the crowd present there turned into anger and frustration.

Meanwhile, for fans who dream of meeting Messi in person and getting a memorable photo clicked with him, this deal is going to prove to be very expensive. The price fixed by the tour organizers for the 'meet and greet' session has surprised everyone. The fee for shaking hands with Messi and getting a photo clicked has been kept at Rs 9.95 lakh (including GST). Despite such a hefty price, the organizers have limited only 100 slots for this special meeting. This means that only a select few will be able to get close to this magician of football.

As soon as the price was revealed, social media was flooded with reactions. This amount is no less than a shock for ordinary fans. People on the internet are mocking this price, saying that instead of spending Rs 10 lakh, it would be better to use AI to create a photo with Messi. Many users have even called it a robbery. It should be noted that after Kolkata, 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Messi will also visit Mumbai, New Delhi and Hyderabad. Even though these tickets are beyond the reach of the common man, Messi's visit to India is being considered a major event for the football world.