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

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

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

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

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

An Intense Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a succession of marketing 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 presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a chaotic start after angry fans ripped up seats and hurled 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 paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.

"Inept organization of a highly anticipated 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 ruckus, which grabbed 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Peaceful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.

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

In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

There were reports 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of His Immense Fame in India

Messi's fame comes not only from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.