Smooth Finish to 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, a multitude of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – booting balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd roared his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his visit there.

A Packed Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing in the early hours of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata

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

Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of devoted supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was enveloped 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 highly anticipated event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "scene of chaos", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."

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

Successful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.

Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these interactions, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

There were reports 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 Source of Messi's Immense Appeal in India

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