Peaceful Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos

Global football icon Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in hazy 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 Argentina and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.

A Packed Itinerary Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the wee hours of Saturday.

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

Disastrous Beginning in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, started with a disastrous start after angry 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 devoted 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 quickly whisked away as the situation became tense.

"Poor management of a much-publicized 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 engaging in violence."

The ruckus, 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 promoter in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Successful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in press interactions.

Messi also encountered several political figures 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 engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

There were reports 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 Great Popularity in India

Messi's appeal is due to more than his prolific international career and wide 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.