Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour After Kolkata Chaos

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami colleagues 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 roared his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, sources indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

An Intense Itinerary Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of brand 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 revealed a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after frustrated fans ripped up 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 adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.

However, many were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation grew violent.

"Inept organization of a hyped-up event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."

The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

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

Successful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.

Messi also had meetings with 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 engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of His Great Popularity in India

Messi's appeal stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.