Calm Finish to Lionel Messi's Visit to India After Unrest in Kolkata

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

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

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

His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports indicated, and his agenda had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.

A Busy Schedule Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, participating in a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he remotely presented a 21-meter statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a chaotic 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 a multitude of adoring supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

However, many failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation became tense.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, disorganization" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – not allowed even a sight of Messi – "expressed their fury by engaging in violence."

The unrest, which grabbed international headlines, marred 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 detained, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Peaceful Events in Other Cities

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai passed off smoothly, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also encountered 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 meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

There were speculation earlier that Messi would meet 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 appeal 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 a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.