🔗 Share this article Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos Messi finished his visit to India with an appearance at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there. A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city. Troubled Start in Football-Loving Kolkata A fan shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless ardent supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, the majority failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile. "Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence." The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody. Successful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with kids at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions. Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi digitally revealed a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children. There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of His Great Popularity in India Messi's popularity is due to more than his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
Messi finished his visit to India with an appearance at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there. A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city. Troubled Start in Football-Loving Kolkata A fan shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless ardent supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, the majority failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile. "Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence." The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody. Successful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with kids at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions. Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi digitally revealed a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children. There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of His Great Popularity in India Messi's popularity is due to more than his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.