Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-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 Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.
As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.
His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.
Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.
Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and threw 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 devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.
However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.
"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."
The unrest, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions.
Messi also met 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 interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.
There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
Messi's fame is due to more than his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.
A passionate gamer and strategy enthusiast with years of experience in competitive gaming and content creation.
