Despite the early turbulence in Kolkata, the tour largely fulfilled its promise. Lionel Messi experienced first-hand the scale of India’s love for football.

Early bird perks A Painted Stork fishes in the shallow waters of the Bhandup Pumping Station wetlands Bus routes and Bombay gupshup Heta Pandit, Kiran Rao, Paul Fernandes, and Rahul Mehrotra; (right) ...