Calm Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

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

His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources reported, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.

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

Troubled Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after angry fans destroyed seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation became tense.

"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."

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

The promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Peaceful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.

Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of His Immense Fame in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.