Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates 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 chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports indicated, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

A Busy Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

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

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a disastrous 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 thousands of adoring supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was surrounded 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 much-publicized event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by engaging in violence."

The unrest, which made international headlines, cast a shadow over Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

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

Successful Events 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 press interactions.

Messi also had meetings with several politicians and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of His Immense Popularity in India

Messi's popularity stems not just from his prolific international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.