Lionel Messi's India Tour: From Chaos to Cheers

Mon Dec 15 2025 17:49:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Lionel Messi's recent tour of India concluded with a largely successful event in Delhi after a chaotic start in Kolkata. Despite the ruckus, the football star charmed thousands of fans and celebrated his enduring popularity.

Lionel Messi's three-day tour of India ended on a high note in Delhi after an initial chaotic event in Kolkata, where frustrated fans caused disruptions at the stadium. His subsequent engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai showcased his star power, as he interacted with fans, unveiled a massive statue in Kolkata, and met prominent figures including politician Rahul Gandhi and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. While Kolkata's event faced backlash due to poor management, the final event painted a vibrant picture of Messi's enduring appeal in a cricket-loving nation.

Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward. As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled the pitch - kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children and signing autographs - the crowd chanted his name.

His flight to the Indian capital from Mumbai was delayed due to fog and poor visibility, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed.

Messi kept a packed schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

However, the Kolkata event got off to an unfortunate start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state - of which Kolkata is the capital - and thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to catch a glimpse of Messi. However, most of them couldn't even catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

Kolkata's The Telegraph newspaper reported that poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of coordination and security lapses turned the stadium into a battlefield. Fans vented their anger by indulging in violence, leading to the arrest of the event organizer, Satadru Dutta, who was remanded to 14 days in police custody.

Despite the chaos in Kolkata, Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai were smoother, with fans delighted to see the global icon. In Hyderabad, he met Rahul Gandhi, and in Mumbai, he interacted with cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Earlier, there were reports suggesting that Messi would meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister was away on an official visit.

Messi's popularity in India is not just due to his illustrious career, but also the emotional connection many fans have with the sport, often dubbed the beautiful game.