Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans assembled 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, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources stated, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry 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 packed schedule in India, attending a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Chaotic Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after disappointed fans ripped up 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 forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, disorganization" 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, marred Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The organizer in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Peaceful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these meetings, 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 meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Great Appeal in India
Messi's appeal comes not only from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
