Calm End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, alongside 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 roared his name.

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

A Busy Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a series of marketing 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 virtually presented a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.

Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a troubled start after frustrated fans tore seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.

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

However, many failed to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation turned hostile.

"Inept organization of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."

The unrest, 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 event organiser in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Successful Events in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.

Messi also encountered several politicians 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 interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan crowds in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of Messi's Vast Fame in India

Messi's fame comes not only from his prolific international career and wide 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.