Calm Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

A Busy Itinerary Across Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a troubled start after angry fans ripped up seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, many failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.

"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."

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

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

Successful Events in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews.

Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

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

There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of Messi's Great Fame in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.