🔗 Share this article Calm End to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata Messi finished his visit to India with an engagement at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there. A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city. Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata An admirer shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans tore 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 thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, many didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence." The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The promoter in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention. Smooth Events in Other Cities Messi played football with children at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend 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 virtually unveiled a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Source of Messi's Great Fame in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
Messi finished his visit to India with an engagement at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata. On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there. A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city. Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata An admirer shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans tore 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 thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, many didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence." The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The promoter in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention. Smooth Events in Other Cities Messi played football with children at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend 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 virtually unveiled a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Source of Messi's Great Fame in India Messi's popularity stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.