🔗 Share this article Smooth End to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata Messi wrapped up his visit to India with an event at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media indicated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there. An Intense Itinerary Across Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata A fan shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after angry fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event. However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Poor management of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence." The unrest, which made international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody. Successful Events in Other Cities Messi played football with youngsters at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews. Messi also had meetings with several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely presented a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children. There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Appeal in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his long international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity 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. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media indicated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there. An Intense Itinerary Across Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India. Disastrous Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata A fan shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after angry fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event. However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent. "Poor management of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence." The unrest, which made international headlines, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody. Successful Events in Other Cities Messi played football with youngsters at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews. Messi also had meetings with several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely presented a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children. There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Appeal in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his long international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.