Calm Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India Following Kolkata Chaos

Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on 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 held up due to fog, reports stated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

An Intense Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a troubled start after angry fans destroyed 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 adoring supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of 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.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."

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

Successful Engagements in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews.

Messi also had meetings with several political figures 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 meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

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

The Root of His Immense Appeal in India

Messi's popularity is due to more than his prolific international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.