Peaceful End to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, accompanied by 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 giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

An Intense Agenda Across Several Metropolises

Messi had a packed schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.

Disastrous Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after disappointed fans tore 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 countless devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.

However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted 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 – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."

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

Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews.

Messi also encountered 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 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 left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of Messi's Immense Fame in India

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