India, Dec. 13 -- Lionel Messi's arrival in Kolkata for his three-day GOAT India tour was always going to be a frenzy of cameras, convoys, and star power. But the most talked-about moment came from outside the airport, a young fan holding a handwritten placard: "Save the Indian Football."

In the viral clip, the girl says her message is simple: she wants Indian football to be saved and for the Indian Super League (ISL) to happen, instead of living in limbo. Her sign, unintentionally, summed up the mood around the sport far better than any red-carpet itinerary.

The contrast of Messi's tour stands in stark contrast to the current situation of Indian football. ISL is stuck in prolonged uncertainty with the All India Football Federation stil...