New Delhi: Messi has concluded a closely watched India tour that began amid disorder in Kolkata but ended smoothly in the national capital despite heavy pollution and logistical challenges.
The visit marked the global football icon’s first trip to India since 2011 and formed part of a promotional series dubbed the GOAT tour. Messi arrived in India on December 13 and followed a packed itinerary across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi.
The opening event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, however, descended into chaos after thousands of fans failed to get a clear view of Messi during a brief appearance. Supporters who had paid up to ₹12,000, equivalent to £100 and $133, grew frustrated as Messi was surrounded by officials and celebrities and escorted away within minutes.
Angry spectators vandalised banners, ripped up plastic chairs and hurled bottles towards the pitch, prompting security intervention. The incident made international headlines and cast a shadow over the tour’s opening day. Authorities later arrested the chief organiser of the Kolkata event, and the West Bengal government announced an inquiry into crowd management failures and ticketing concerns.
Despite the rocky start, Messi’s subsequent appearances proceeded without incident. In Hyderabad and Mumbai, large crowds gathered peacefully as Messi interacted with fans, waved from the pitch, signed autographs and passed footballs to children. Messi was accompanied during the tour by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
In Delhi, thousands assembled at a stadium despite hazardous air quality and transport delays caused by dense fog. Messi’s flight from Mumbai arrived late, leading to a trimmed schedule, but the appearance remained orderly. Fans chanted Messi’s name as the footballer engaged briefly with the crowd, offering a sharp contrast to the unrest seen earlier in Kolkata.
During the visit, Messi also met several prominent figures, including actor Shah Rukh Khan, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. A planned meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not take place as Modi departed for an overseas visit.
Messi’s popularity in India continues to be fuelled by decades of televised European football, World Cup success and deep emotional connections with the sport, particularly in football-loving regions such as West Bengal. The tour’s conclusion in Delhi has underscored both the scale of Messi’s global appeal and the challenges of managing mega-events involving international sports icons.
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