Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans assembled 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, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a succession of marketing 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 remotely presented a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a troubled start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

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

However, the majority failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."

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

Smooth Events in Other Cities

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 Messi's Vast Fame in India

Messi's fame is due to more than his prolific international career and wide 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 known as the beautiful game.