🔗 Share this article Smooth End to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata Messi wrapped up his visit to India with an event at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name. His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there. A Busy Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata An admirer holds a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after angry fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of adoring supporters had forked out 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 brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence." The unrest, which captured international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody. Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with kids at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions. Messi also met 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 virtually presented a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children. There were reports 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 Source of His Immense Appeal in India Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
Messi wrapped up his visit to India with an event at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name. His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there. A Busy Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India. Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata An admirer holds a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after angry fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of adoring supporters had forked out 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 brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence." The unrest, which captured international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody. Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with kids at a sports arena in Delhi. Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions. Messi also met 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 virtually presented a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children. There were reports 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 Source of His Immense Appeal in India Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.