The soccer-crazy star gives VIP stalls a miss, will watch the football genius in action in Kolkata from the stands with the crowds

Ranbir Kapoor may be a 'player' with the ladies, but there is another player who actually makes him go weak in the knees. The soccer-crazy star is a huge fan of footballer Lionel Messi.

Not only is the actor taking a day off from his Rockstar promotional events to attend the friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela in Kolkata, but he is also planning to watch the master in action along with the crowds from the regular stands at Salt Lake Stadium on September 2.

Director Anurag Basu, who is also attending the match with Ranbir, confirms the two will not be sitting in the VIP stall.

"Public ke saath match dekhne ka mazaa hi kuch aur hai," he says. Basu and Ranbir just got back from a week-long shoot in Kolkata for the former's Barfee.

First time

"We shot in crowded locations of the city like Phool Bazar and Howrah Bridge. The crowds, known to get over-excited when they see Mumbai stars, were exceptionally well behaved. This was Ranbir's first visit to Kolkata in recent years, and he made himself comfortable in the city."

The two apparently pleaded with Rockstar director Imtiaz Ali to give Ranbir some time off to watch the match. Says a friend of the star, "Even if Imtiaz tied him down to a lamp post on September 2, he'd have been in Kolkata for the match. Ranbir is a huge Messi fan. Not seeing the match is not an option."

The actor and the filmmaker have already chalked their plans for the big day, including a personal meeting with Messi. The 80,000 odd fans expected to attend this match are in for some exciting action both on and off the field for sure!