Smooth Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour Following Disorder in Kolkata

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, a multitude of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami attacker.

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

His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports reported, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, frustrated fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.

An Intense Itinerary Spanning Multiple Cities

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a string 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 unveiled a massive statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Start in Soccer-Mad Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to 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 thousands 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 accompanied by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense.

"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."

The ruckus, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed 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 taken into custody, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Peaceful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in press interactions.

Messi also encountered several political figures 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 acknowledging large fan assemblies 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 traveled abroad on Monday morning on a pre-arranged visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Reason of His Vast Fame in India

Messi's fame comes not only from his lengthy international career and extensive 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.