Kolkata, Dec. 13 -- Argentine soccer great Lionel Messi received a rousing welcome on his arrival in the city, his second visit in 14 years, as thousands of fans wearing Barcelona's No. 10 jerseys waited past midnight braving the winter chill to catch a glimpse of the football magician.
Messi's plane landed at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport around 2:26 am, met by massive crowds chanting his name and waving Argentine flags.
A heavy security presence was deployed, yet fans flooded the airport perimeter and the vicinity of the Hyatt Regency hotel where he is staying. Kolkata, the soccer crazy city of cricket-mad India, is gearing up for Messi's return after 14 years with large-scale celebrations, including a 70-foot statue...