Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Kolkata Chaos

Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, countless fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates 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 shouted his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports stated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.

A Busy Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after disappointed fans destroyed 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 adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

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

"Poor management 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 – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."

The disturbance, which made international headlines, overshadowed 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star 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 greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and dribbling 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of Messi's Great Appeal in India

Messi's appeal comes not only from his prolific international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.