Smooth Conclusion to Messi's India Tour Following Kolkata Chaos

Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources reported, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his visit there.

An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

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

Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after frustrated fans tore 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 ardent supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.

"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."

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

Peaceful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also had meetings with several politicians 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 greeting large fan crowds 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 left the country on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of Messi's Great Fame in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.