Calm Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Kolkata Chaos

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues 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 roared his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports stated, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.

An Intense Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.

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

Disastrous Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and flung 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 devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, many failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation became tense.

"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."

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

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

Peaceful Events in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star online and in press interactions.

Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor 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 acknowledging large fan assemblies 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of His Immense Fame in India

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