As Kolkata was mesmerised with the arrival of Lionel Messi and his Argentine colleagues this week, we look at some of the footballing greats who visited the City of Joy in the past.
Lev Yashin: The famous World Cup goalkeeper of the erstwhile USSR visited Kolkata twice, once with the Soviet team which toured India in 1955. In the Calcutta International, the USSR, which had Yashin in goal, defeated India 3-0.
He again came to Calcutta, as chief guest for the IFA Shield final in 1973 and gave away the prizes.
Photographs: Getty Images
Pele played in Kolkata in 1977
Terry Paine: The England international came to play in Kolkata with the Crooke Town team in 1976.
Vilem Schroif: The goalkeeper of erstwhile Czechoslovakia for two World Cups played two exhibition matches for Slovan Bratislava in 1965 at the Rabindra Sarovar stadium.
Pele and Carlos Alberto Parreira: Both Brazilian World Cuppers came to Kolkata in September 1977, when Cosmos played an exhibition match with Mohun Bagan.
Careca played in the Nehru Cup in 1984
Enzo Francescoli, Valencia Ramos: Represented Uruguay in the inaugural Nehru Cup in 1982.
Jorge Burruchaga, Careca: Represented Argentina in the Nehru Cup in 1984
Laszlo Kiss: Represented Hungary in the Nehru Cup in 1984, at Kolkata.
Nicky Butt: The England World Cupper passed through Kolkata with South China Club (Hong Kong) in 2011 to play in AFC Cup.
Moore was chief guest at the 1984 Nehru Cup final
Bobby Moore: England's World Cup-winning captain was the chief guest in the 1984 Nehru Cup final.
Smolarek, Buncol: The Polish World Cuppers played in the final of Nehru Cup in 1984.
Emeka Ezuego: The Nigerian World Cupper played for East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting.
Eusebio visited Kolkata in 1990
Eusebio: The Portuguese World Cupper was the chief guest in the final of Nehru Cup in 1990.
Ronald Koeman of Holland and Popescu of Romania played three exhibition matches for PSV Eindhoven in 1991.
Milla played for Diamond Club
Roger Milla: The Cameroon striker came with Diamond Club to play exhibition matches during the Centenary celebrations of Mohun Bagan.
Majid Bashkar: The Iranian World Cupper played for East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting between 1980 and 1986.
Gerd Muller: The West Germany ace came as assistant manager of the Bayern Munich team in the IFA Shield in 2005 and again in 2009.
Kahn played his farewell game in Kolkata
Oliver Kahn: Germany's ace goalkeeper played his farewell game for Bayern Munich in 2008 in Kolkata.
Paul Brietner, Andreas Brehme and Stefan Reuter: All of Germany played an exhibition match for Bayern Munich Veterans against East Bengal veterans in 2010.
Maradona thrilled Kolkata in 2009
Diego Maradona: Argentina's football legend visited Kolkata in 2009.
Diego Forlan: Uruguay's winner of the Golden Ball at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and winner of Copa America 2011 visited Kolkata in 2010.
Karl Heinze Rumminiege: The former West Germany captain visited Kolkata in 2010.
Julian Caminho: The Argentine visted Kolkata twice -- first in 1988 to play for East Bengal and again in 2011.
Macdonald Mukansi: The South African played for East Bengal in 2007.
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