Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.

Troubled Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after disappointed fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

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

However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

"Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" 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, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

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

Successful Engagements in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.

Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor 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 playing football with groups of children.

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

The Root of Messi's Vast Popularity in India

Messi's popularity stems not just from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.