Soccer legend Lionel Messi has finished his three-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 Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.
As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports indicated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.
A Packed Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises
Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.
Disastrous Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata
The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after frustrated fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless ardent supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.
However, many 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 hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.
"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."
The disturbance, which made 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.
Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai
Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy 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 acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.
There were reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
The Reason of His Immense Appeal in India
Messi's appeal 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 countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.
