Kolkatta spruces up with jubilance to welcome the super star foot ball player, Lionel Messi, who shall lead the Argentina in the FIFA official friendly foot ball match against Venezuela on September 2.

The much adored player is expected by the end of the week for practice at the Salt lake stadium, Kolkatta.

The match has kindled over whelming response from all quarters. Bollywood personalities and noted corporate bosses are also planning to cheer the superstar.

The broad casting rights have been sold for $ 1 million. The match is going to fetch approx 20 Cr for the organizers.

Most of the tickets are sold out, for the match. Almost 60% of the buyers are from other parts of the country and almost 1000 international fans are expected to visit the city.

The city is gearing up well and the officials of the event are going all out to make it a memorable day.

The 24-year-old talismanic Messi would make his debut as regular Argentine skipper in the match. He has been termed as `Messidona’ by the Spanish press, for his style reminding Diego Marodona.

The foot ball mania was similar when Diego Marodona arrived in 2008, but cash registers clicking now, were no comparison. Though the city was a diehard fan of cricket and football evenly, the recent debacle of the Indian team at England could also aid the match revenues.

The stars in the Argentina squad were Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Martin Demichelis, Jonas Gutierrez and Pablo Zabaleta, along with their new coach Alejandro Sabella.