Football icon wraps up India tour with Delhi visit
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Lionel Messi finished his India tour with a visit to Delhi, following promotional events in multiple cities and a troubled start in Kolkata.
Lionel Messi's three-day tour of India concluded in Delhi, following an eventful beginning in Kolkata. Despite delays and itinerary adjustments, the football superstar engaged with fans in several cities.
On Monday, thousands of eager fans in Delhi gathered at a stadium for a chance to see the Argentinian forward, who plays for Inter Miami. Messi, along with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the field to cheers. They kicked balls into the stands, passed the ball with children, and signed autographs for the crowd.
His flight from Mumbai to Delhi faced delays due to fog and reduced visibility, which led to a shortened schedule, according to local reports. Since arriving early Saturday, Messi maintained a busy schedule, attending promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
Before his appearance at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, Messi virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself. A team of 45 people spent 27 days constructing the statue in Kolkata.
The Kolkata leg of the tour experienced a setback when frustrated fans damaged seats and threw objects, after paying as much as 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) for a glimpse of Messi. Many attendees were unable to see him due to his being surrounded by officials and celebrities during his brief appearance.
The Telegraph newspaper in Kolkata criticized the event's management, citing "poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of coordination" and security issues that turned the stadium into a "battlefield". The newspaper reported that fans, angered by their inability to see Messi, resorted to violence.
The disruption garnered international attention and overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011, dubbed the 'GOAT tour'. Police have arrested the Kolkata event organizer, Satadru Dutta, and a city court has placed him in 14-day police custody.
In contrast, Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai proceeded without incident. Fans expressed their excitement about seeing the football star through online posts and media interviews.
