Calm End to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos

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

On Monday, countless fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.

A Packed Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities

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

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

Troubled Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up 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 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 surrounded by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", 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 dubbed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

The promoter in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Successful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend on social media and in media interviews.

Messi also had meetings with several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of Messi's Vast Appeal in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.