Peaceful End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India Following Kolkata Chaos

Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, following a disorderly opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, sources stated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.

A Packed Schedule Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating 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 remotely unveiled a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-person crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and flung 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 ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend 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 rapidly taken 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 "scene of chaos", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."

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

The organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Smooth Visits in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.

Messi also met several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet 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 Root of His Immense Fame in India

Messi's appeal comes not only from his lengthy international career and extensive 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 called the beautiful game.