Lionel Messi arrived in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday for a three-day tour, and the excitement surrounding the Argentina legend's arrival led some fans to take extraordinary measures, including booking rooms at his hotel in the hope of catching a glimpse of the Argentine superstar, according to Indian media reports.

With security sealing off the entire floor of the hotel where Messi was staying, access to the football icon remained extremely limited. Still, several supporters chose to check in, determined to stay as close as possible to their hero during his brief visit.

Among them was a teenage student from New Alipore who is a self-confessed Cristiano Ronaldo supporter. Despite backing Messi's long-time rival, the youngster convinced his family to arrive at the hotel a day early, believing the occasion was too significant to miss.

"I'm a die-hard Ronaldo fan, so what? His biggest rival is coming to my city, and I cannot miss the moment. So we planned to stay at the hotel a day in advance," Krish Gupta, a Class 9 student, was quoted as saying by The Hindu, an Indian English-language daily newspaper.

The teenager, accompanied by his mother and sister, roamed around the hotel, hoping to bump into the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

"I just want to tell him to play football with me. And if I'm not successful, I will go to the gym tomorrow morning to catch a glimpse of him. I have my autograph book ready, and hopefully I will get a selfie," Krish added.

Indian media noted that scenes inside the hotel mirrored the wider frenzy outside, with fans wearing Argentina jerseys, waving flags and chanting Messi's name through the night, underscoring the extraordinary pull of the Argentine star -- even among those who grew up cheering for his fiercest rival.