Smooth Finish to Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos

Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.

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

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled on the pitch – sending balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd roared his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media indicated, and his itinerary had to be cut down. On Saturday, disappointed fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his appearance 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 arriving in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

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

Troubled Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a troubled start after disappointed fans ripped up seats and hurled items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is immensely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and a multitude of ardent supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to attend the event.

However, most of them failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.

"Poor management of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "released their frustration 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 promoter in Kolkata has been taken into custody, police said, and a city court has ordered Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.

Peaceful Engagements in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.

Messi also had meetings with several politicians 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 engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and juggling the ball with groups of children.

There were reports 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 His Immense Popularity in India

Messi's fame is due to more than his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the highest goal-getter for Barcelona – but also the strong affinity that millions of Indians have with what is often referred to as the beautiful game.