🔗 Share this article Smooth Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata Messi concluded his India tour with an event at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name. His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there. A Busy Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city. Chaotic Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata A fan holds a shirt of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans destroyed 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 a multitude of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, many didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence." The disturbance, which captured 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 organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Peaceful Visits in Other Cities Messi had a kickabout with youngsters at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions. Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely unveiled a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's appeal comes not only 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 known as the beautiful game.
Messi concluded his India tour with an event at a stadium in Delhi on Monday. Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name. His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there. A Busy Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday. Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city. Chaotic Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata A fan holds a shirt of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans destroyed 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 a multitude of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, many didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense. "Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence." The disturbance, which captured 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 organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Peaceful Visits in Other Cities Messi had a kickabout with youngsters at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions. Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Messi remotely unveiled a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi encountered Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's appeal comes not only 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 known as the beautiful game.