Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates 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 chanted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources stated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.
A Packed Agenda Across Several Metropolises
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.
Troubled Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans destroyed 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 thousands of devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief 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 "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."
The ruckus, which grabbed 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 ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Smooth Events in Other Cities
Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.
Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football 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 Source of His Vast Appeal in India
Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
