🔗 Share this article Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India Following Kolkata Chaos Messi wrapped up his India tour with an event at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there. An Intense Itinerary Across Several Metropolises Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city. Disastrous Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata An admirer shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore 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 ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken 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 – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence." The disturbance, which captured international headlines, overshadowed 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 detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention. Successful Engagements in Other Cities Messi played football with kids 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 global icon on social media and in media interviews. Messi also encountered several political figures 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 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 greeting large fan gatherings 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Fame in India Messi's appeal is due to more than his prolific international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
Messi wrapped up his India tour with an event at a sports arena in Delhi on Monday. Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata. On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker. As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name. His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there. An Intense Itinerary Across Several Metropolises Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city. Disastrous Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata An admirer shows a jersey of Messi at the gathering in Delhi. The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore 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 ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event. However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken 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 – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence." The disturbance, which captured international headlines, overshadowed 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 detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention. Successful Engagements in Other Cities Messi played football with kids 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 global icon on social media and in media interviews. Messi also encountered several political figures 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 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 greeting large fan gatherings 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The Reason of Messi's Immense Fame in India Messi's appeal is due to more than his prolific international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.