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

Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

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

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

His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports indicated, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

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

Troubled Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a troubled start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.

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

However, most of them failed 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 became tense.

"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."

The disturbance, which captured international headlines, marred 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 detained, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Successful 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 press interactions.

Messi also encountered several politicians 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 meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings 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 left the country on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of Messi's Great Appeal in India

Messi's fame stems not just from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.