New Delhi: Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day visit to India, ending the tour in pollution-hit Delhi after a turbulent start in Kolkata that drew global attention.
On Monday, thousands of fans packed a stadium in the capital, hoping for a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward. Messi, joined by teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch, kicked balls into the stands, signed autographs, and shared moments with young children as fans chanted his name.
His arrival in Delhi was delayed due to heavy fog, forcing organisers to shorten parts of his schedule. Despite the changes, the event passed off without incident, unlike the scenes witnessed earlier in the tour.
Messi’s visit began in Kolkata on Saturday but quickly descended into chaos. Angry fans vandalised parts of Salt Lake Stadium after failing to see him during a tightly managed appearance. Football enjoys a massive following in West Bengal, and many supporters had paid as much as 12,000 rupees for tickets.
Although Messi briefly walked around the stadium, he was closely surrounded by officials and celebrities before being hurried away as tensions rose. The unrest later led to the arrest of the event organiser, who was remanded to police custody.
🏏⚽️ In a rare crossover moment for global sport, ICC Chairman Jay Shah met football icon Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul and presented them with #TeamIndia jerseys and a signed bat by the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 winning Indian team in New Delhi.@JayShah |… pic.twitter.com/C4uJEJBna1
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 15, 2025
The incident overshadowed what was meant to be a celebratory first visit to India since 2011. Before heading to the stadium in Kolkata, Messi had virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself, built over nearly a month by a large local team.
The remainder of the tour unfolded smoothly. Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai were well managed, with fans sharing videos and photos of their encounters with the football icon. Messi also met several prominent figures, including actor Shah Rukh Khan, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Throughout the trip, he was seen waving to crowds, juggling the ball on the pitch, and interacting with children, moments that were widely shared across social media.
Plans for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi did not materialise, as the prime minister departed on an overseas tour on Monday morning.
Messi’s immense popularity in India reflects not only his decorated career and record-breaking years at Barcelona, but also the deep emotional bond millions of Indians share with football, a sport that continues to inspire generations across the country.
