Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports indicated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
A Packed Schedule Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Troubled Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."
The unrest, 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Smooth Visits in Other Cities
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.
Messi also encountered several political figures 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 acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of His Vast Popularity in India
Messi's popularity is due to more than his prolific international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.
