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

Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

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

His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports stated, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.

A Packed Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of adoring 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 short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

"Poor management of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."

The ruckus, which made international headlines, overshadowed 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

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

In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Vast Appeal in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.