Lionel Messi Concludes His Turbulent India Tour on a High Note

Tue Dec 16 2025 06:57:05 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

After a tumultuous start in Kolkata, football legend Lionel Messi wrapped up his three-day tour of India with a grand event in Delhi, delighting thousands of fans despite earlier chaos.

Lionel Messi's recent three-day tour of India concluded with an event in Delhi after a chaotic start in Kolkata. Although his visit began with overwhelming fan anger in Kolkata, the final day saw Messi engaging joyfully with fans, signing autographs, and interacting with children. The tour showcased Messi's significant popularity in India, despite the challenges faced during the trip.

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 on the pitch - kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs - the crowd chanted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans vandalized a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.

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

However, the tour got off to a disastrous start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state, where Kolkata is the capital, and many supporters paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to attend. Unfortunately, most fans didn’t even get to see him as he was quickly whisked away in response to growing unrest.

Kolkata's The Telegraph remarked on the poor management and security breaches that turned the stadium into a 'battlefield.' In light of the chaos, the event organizer in Kolkata has been arrested.

In contrast, Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai were smooth, with fans praising their experiences online. Messi also interacted with various celebrities and notable figures including Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Despite earlier reports of a potential meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the two could not meet due to Modi's prior commitments abroad.

Messi's enduring popularity highlights the emotional connection many Indians have with football, often referred to as the beautiful game.