🔗 Share this article Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata Messi concluded his visit to India with an event at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his visit there. A Busy Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday. Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata A supporter shows a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense. "Poor management of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence." The ruckus, which made international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Peaceful Engagements in Other Cities Messi had a kickabout with kids at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions. Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely presented a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children. There were reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 Immense Popularity in India Messi's fame comes not only from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
Messi concluded his visit to India with an event at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his visit there. A Busy Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday. Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata A supporter shows a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense. "Poor management of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence." The ruckus, which made international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Peaceful Engagements in Other Cities Messi had a kickabout with kids at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions. Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely presented a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children. There were reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 Immense Popularity in India Messi's fame comes not only from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.