🔗 Share this article Smooth End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos Messi finished his India tour with an appearance at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there. A Packed Agenda Across Multiple Cities Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata A supporter shows a shirt of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a troubled start after frustrated fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event. However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense. "Inept organization of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence." The unrest, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with children at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews. Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi digitally revealed a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi met Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children. There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of Messi's Vast Fame in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
Messi finished his India tour with an appearance at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there. A Packed Agenda Across Multiple Cities Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata A supporter shows a shirt of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a troubled start after frustrated fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event. However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense. "Inept organization of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence." The unrest, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with children at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews. Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi digitally revealed a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi met Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children. There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Root of Messi's Vast Fame in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.