Smooth End to Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata

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

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

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

A Busy Itinerary Across Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn 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 eastern city.

Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after frustrated fans tore seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

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

However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded 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 highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."

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

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

Successful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy 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, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of Messi's Vast Popularity in India

Messi's popularity is due to more than 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 countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.