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

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

On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.

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

His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.

An Intense Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built 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 troubled start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

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

However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."

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

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

Smooth Events in Other Cities

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.

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 engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

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

The Source of Messi's Great Popularity in India

Messi's appeal comes not only from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.