Smooth Finish to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Unrest in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentinian and Inter Miami forward.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami team-mates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, playing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports reported, and his agenda had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his event there.

A Busy Itinerary Across Several Metropolises

Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of marketing events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since landing 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 city in eastern India.

Chaotic Kickoff in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

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

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

However, the majority failed to see him as he was accompanied 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 hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."

The unrest, which made international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been called a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

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

Successful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's events in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the global icon on social media and in media interviews.

Messi also had meetings with several political figures and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

There were rumors earlier that Messi would have a meeting with Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the Indian prime minister traveled abroad on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of Messi's Immense Fame in India

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