Peaceful Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

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

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

His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.

A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours 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.

Disastrous Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, most of them failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation became tense.

"Poor management of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."

The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, cast a shadow over 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Smooth Engagements in Other Cities

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 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 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 have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of Messi's Immense Appeal in India

Messi's popularity stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.