Smooth End to Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata

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

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

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami colleagues 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 roared his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a troubled start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense.

"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."

The disturbance, which captured international headlines, cast a shadow over 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.

Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star online and in press interactions.

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 meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan assemblies 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 left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of Messi's Immense Popularity in India

Messi's popularity comes not only from his long international career and broad 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.