Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India Following Kolkata Chaos

Global football icon Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd shouted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources reported, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his visit there.

A Packed Schedule 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 pre-dawn of Saturday.

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

Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of devoted supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, many 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 hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.

"Faulty planning of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "vented their anger by indulging in violence."

The ruckus, which captured 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 police custody.

Smooth Engagements in Other Cities

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

Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of Messi's Vast Popularity in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his prolific international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.