India, Dec. 19 -- It began in chaos, ended in celebration and confetti. In three of the four cities, Lionel Messi and his friends' tour transformed chief ministers, footballers, celebrities - including Sachin Tendulkar at Wankhede Stadium - and children into fans. In one, his first stop, he was ring-fenced by freeloaders ruining the experience for paying fans leading to carnage.

In Hyderabad, Messi and Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy played in opposing teams. In Mumbai, Messi and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul enjoyed quick-pass drills with children. Amid AQI so severe that junior school classes have moved online and conditions so smoggy that his flight was delayed, Messi enthralled Delhi. Explains why...