Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, a multitude of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.
A Busy Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities
Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.
Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
Chaotic Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata
The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.
However, the majority failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.
"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."
The ruckus, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Smooth Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.
Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor 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 waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Source of His Vast Popularity in India
Messi's appeal stems not just from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
