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

Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

A Packed Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities

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

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

Troubled Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata

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

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

However, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.

"Poor management of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Peaceful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai

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

Messi also had meetings with several political figures 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 meetings, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

There were rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Vast Popularity in India

Messi's fame stems not just from his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.