Football icon Lionel Messi’s second day in India went smoothly on Sunday, after a chaotic opening to his three-day tour as the World Cup winner kicked balls into the crowd and met cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.
Messi greeted ecstatic fans decked out in Argentina soccer jerseys at a packed Wankhede Stadium in India’s financial hub, Mumbai, as supporters chanted his name.
The 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar took the stage in the presence of India’s sporting royalty including Tendulkar and football star Sunil Chhetri.
Messi, along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, is part of a so-called Goat Tour in a cricket-mad nation.
Cricket great Tendulkar presented Messi with his iconic number 10 jersey from India’s 2011 World Cup triumph at the same venue.
“I have spent some incredible moments here,” said batting star Tendulkar.
“Mumbai is a city of dreams and many dreams have seen the finish line here at this very place and without your support we could never have seen the golden moments of 2011.
“And today, having all three big games here, is truly a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India.”
Although a cricket powerhouse, the 1.4 billion nation struggles on the football pitch and is 142nd in the Fifa rankings.
“Thank you for being here and encouraging youngsters,” Tendulkar said. “I hope that football here in India also reaches the heights that we all aspire to.”
The Mumbai event went off without a hitch compared to Saturday’s in the eastern city of Kolkata, where tight security left fans scrambling to catch a glimpse of Messi.
Frustrated fans, many of whom had paid more than $100 for tickets, broke down the barricades and stormed the field after the superstar abruptly left the arena.
Spectators also ripped out stadium seats and threw water bottles onto the pitch.
One person has been arrested for the incident.
Before chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21-metre (70ft) statue of him holding the 2022 World Cup aloft.
The footballer was in the city of Hyderabad later on Saturday, where he briefly addressed the crowd in Spanish.
Messi ends his India tour on Monday with a possible meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The footballer won his second Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after leading Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker will spearhead Argentina’s defense of the World Cup in June-July in North America.
