Peaceful Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata

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

On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.

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

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, sources stated, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.

A Packed Itinerary Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a packed schedule in India, participating in a succession of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Troubled Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

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

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

However, the majority were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation turned hostile.

"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."

The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, marred 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also had meetings with 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 greeting large fan crowds in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 Source of His Great Fame in India

Messi's popularity is due to more than his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.