Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's India Tour After Unrest in Kolkata

Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours of Saturday.

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

Chaotic Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at 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 hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.

"Poor management of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."

The disturbance, which captured 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 promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Peaceful Events in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.

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 assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

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

The Reason of Messi's Immense Fame in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his prolific international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.