Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.
A Busy Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after frustrated fans ripped up 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 countless devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, many failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.
"Poor management of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."
The ruckus, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.
The promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Successful Engagements in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in media interviews.
Messi also had meetings with 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 engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football 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 Reason of Messi's Great Appeal in India
Messi's fame comes not only from his prolific international career and extensive 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.
