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

Global football icon Lionel Messi has wrapped up his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, following a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – booting balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, reports stated, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, frustrated fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his event there.

A Busy Itinerary Across Multiple Cities

Messi had a busy schedule in India, taking part in a series of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving in the early hours of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually presented a massive statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a chaotic start after angry fans tore 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 a multitude of ardent supporters had spent up to 12,000 rupees to be at the event.

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

"Poor management of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by resorting to violence."

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

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

Successful Engagements in Other Cities

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.

Messi also met several political figures and celebrities – Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and sporting icon Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan crowds in stadiums and dribbling the ball with groups of children.

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

The Reason of Messi's Great Appeal in India

Messi's fame comes not only from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the all-time top scorer for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that countless Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.