Calm End to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos

Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media stated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

A Packed Agenda Across Several Metropolises

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

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after frustrated fans tore 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 thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, most of them failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.

"Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."

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

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

Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.

Messi also met 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 assemblies in stadiums and playing football 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 Messi's Vast Appeal in India

Messi's fame stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.