Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates 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 held up due to fog, reports stated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his appearance there.

A Packed Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities

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

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated 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 thousands of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, many didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."

The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed 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 remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star online 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 meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

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

The Source of Messi's Immense Fame in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his prolific international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.