Peaceful End to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Kolkata Chaos

Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates 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 plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports stated, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities

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

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a troubled start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.

However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.

"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."

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

The event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Smooth Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai

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

Messi also had meetings with 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 engagements, Messi could be seen waving to 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Vast Fame in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.