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

Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.

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

His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.

An Intense Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a series of brand 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 remotely unveiled a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.

Disastrous Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after angry fans destroyed 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 forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."

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

The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Successful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also met 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 engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds 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 left the country on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Vast Fame in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.