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

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

On Monday, a multitude of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.

An Intense Agenda Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, taking part in a succession of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata

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

Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was accompanied by officials and celebrities on his quick walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense.

"Poor management 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 engaging in violence."

The unrest, which made 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Smooth Engagements 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 – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these meetings, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were speculation earlier that Messi would have a meeting with 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 Root of Messi's Immense Popularity in India

Messi's fame is due to more than his prolific international career and extensive 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.