Calm End to Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata

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

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

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing 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 indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a troubled start after frustrated fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is hugely 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 attend the event.

However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.

"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."

The unrest, 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Peaceful Engagements in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy 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, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling 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 Source of Messi's Great Popularity in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.