🔗 Share this article Smooth Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata Messi wrapped up his India tour with an engagement at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there. An Intense Agenda Across Several Metropolises Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part 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 remotely presented 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 An admirer displays a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, the majority failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile. "Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence." The unrest, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with youngsters at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star on social media 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 virtually revealed a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging 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 left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Source of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's fame stems not just from his long international career and extensive 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 India tour with an engagement at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there. An Intense Agenda Across Several Metropolises Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part 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 remotely presented 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 An admirer displays a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi. The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans tore seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event. However, the majority failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile. "Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence." The unrest, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'. The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody. Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai Messi had a kickabout with youngsters at a stadium in Delhi. Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star on social media 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 virtually revealed a massive statue of himself in Kolkata. Messi had a meeting with Indian sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging 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 left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Source of Messi's Immense Popularity in India Messi's fame stems not just from his long international career and extensive 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.