Calm End to Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, countless fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports indicated, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.

A Busy Itinerary Across Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.

"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."

The disturbance, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

The organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Successful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of His Immense Popularity in India

Messi's fame is due to more than his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.