Smooth End to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates 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 flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports indicated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.

An Intense Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.

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

Troubled Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a troubled 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 countless devoted supporters had forked out 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 rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."

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

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

Smooth Visits 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 had meetings with 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 meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

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

The Reason of Messi's Vast Appeal in India

Messi's popularity is due to more than his lengthy international career and broad 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.