Lionel Messi may have taken Kolkata by storm but it is not the first time, the City of Joy has hosted an international sporting star of such stature.
Here is a list of mega-stars, who have set foot on the Bengal capital:
1) Lev Yashin - Famous World Cupper of U.S.S.R. visited Kolkata twice - once with the Soviet team who toured India in 1955. In the Calcutta International, U.S.S.R which had Yashin in goal defeated India 3-0. He again came to Calcutta as the Chief Guest of the I.F.A Shield final in 1973 and gave away the prizes.
2) Terry Paine - England International came to play in Kolkata with Crooke Town team in 1976.
3) Schroif - Goal Keeper and Popluhar - stopper two World Cuppers of Czecoslovakia played two exhibition matches for Slovan Bratislava in 1965 at Rabindra Sarovar Stadium.
4) Pele and Carlos Alberto, both Brazilian World Cuppers came to Kolkata in September, 1977 for Cosmos and played an exhibition match with Mohun Bagan.
5) Enzo Francescoli and Valencia Ramos (Uruguay) played in the inaugural Nehru Cup in 1982.
6) Burruchaga and Gareca (Argentina) played in the Nehru Cup - 1984
7) Lazlo Kiss (Hungary) played in the Nehru Cup - 1984 at Kolkata.
8) Sanzari - Iranian World Cupper played for Mohammedan Sporting in 1979.
9) Nicky Butt - England World Cupper passed through Kolkata with South China Club - (Hong Kong) in 2011 to play in AFC Cup.
10) Bobby Moore - England World Cup winning Captain was the Chief Guest in the Nehru Cup Final - 1984
11) Smolarek and Buncol - World Cuppers from Poland played in the final of Nehru Cup - 1984.
12) Emeka Ezuego Nigerian World Cupper played for East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting.
13) Eusebio - Portugese World Cupper was the Chief Guest in the final of Nehru Club Cup in 1990.
14) Ronald Koeman (Holland) and Popisku played an exhibition match for PSV Eindhoven in 1991.
15) Roger Milla (Cameroon) came to play for Diamont Club in some exhibition matches in the Centenary Celebration of Mohun Bagan.
16) Majid Bashkar - the Iranian World Cupper played for East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting from 1980 - 1986.
17) Gerd Muller (West Germany) - came as the Asst Manager of Bayern Munich team in the I.F.A Shield - 2005 and again in 2009.
18) Oliver Kahn (Germany) played his farewell game for Bayern Munich in 2008.
19) Paul Brietner, Andreas Brehme and Stefan Reuter (Germany) came to play and exhibition match with East Bengal Veterans for Bayern
Munich Veterans in 2010.
20) Diego Maradona (Argentina) visited Kolkata in 2009.
21) Diego Forlan (Uruguay) visited Kolkata in 2010.
22) Karl Heinze Rumminiege (West Germany) visited Kolkata in 2010.
23) Julian Caminho (Argentina) visted Kolkata twice -- first in 1988 to play for East Bengal and again in 2011.
24) Macdonald Mukansi (South Africa) played for East Bengal in 2007.
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