Peaceful Finish to Messi's Visit to India Following Unrest in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, reports indicated, 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.

A Packed Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a succession of brand 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 remotely revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Start in Soccer-Mad 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 extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

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

"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."

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

The event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Smooth Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – film actor 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 waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of Messi's Immense Popularity in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.