Calm End to Messi's Visit to India After Disorder in Kolkata

Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.

A Packed Agenda Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.

Disastrous Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a troubled start after frustrated 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 thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, the majority didn't even get to see 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 hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."

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

Smooth Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend 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 meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

There were reports 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 Source of His Great Appeal in India

Messi's popularity stems not just from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.