Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources stated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

An Intense Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a series of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

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

Troubled Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after disappointed fans destroyed 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 attend the event.

However, many failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.

"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."

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

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

Smooth Events in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.

Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were reports earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Immense Fame in India

Messi's appeal comes not only from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.