Calm End to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos

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

On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a succession of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually revealed a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a troubled start after frustrated fans destroyed seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is extremely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and countless ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation turned hostile.

"Poor management of a highly anticipated event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "expressed their fury 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 organizer in Kolkata has been detained, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Smooth Engagements in Other Cities

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend 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 rumors earlier that Messi would meet Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister departed on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of Messi's Immense Popularity in India

Messi's popularity is due to more than his long international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.