Smooth Finish to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

A Busy Agenda Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, attending a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.

Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

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

Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, most of them didn't even get to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted 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 "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."

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

Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.

Messi also met 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 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 planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Immense Appeal in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his long international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.