Calm Conclusion to Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.

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

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources reported, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

A Busy Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry 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 adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.

"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."

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

Smooth Visits in Other Cities

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in media interviews.

Messi also encountered several political figures 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 waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were reports 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 Source of His Great Fame in India

Messi's fame stems not just from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.