Peaceful End to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos

Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

A Busy Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after angry fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted 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 indulging in violence."

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

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

Smooth Events in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.

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

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

There were speculation 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 His Vast Fame in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.