Smooth End to Messi's Visit to India After Unrest in Kolkata

Football superstar Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans assembled in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.

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

His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, reports indicated, and his schedule had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the early hours of Saturday.

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

Troubled Beginning in Football-Loving Kolkata

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

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

However, the majority didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.

"Faulty planning of a hyped-up event, disorganization" 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 unrest, 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 promoter in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Peaceful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon on social media and in press interactions.

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

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football 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 pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Great Popularity in India

Messi's popularity stems not just from his prolific international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.