Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Kolkata Chaos

Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-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 catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.

An Intense Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Troubled Beginning in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans tore 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 devoted supporters had forked out 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 quick walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.

"Poor management of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."

The disturbance, which made international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been dubbed 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 custody.

Smooth Events in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.

Messi also encountered several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

There were reports earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Vast Popularity in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.