Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's Visit to India After Kolkata Chaos

Soccer legend Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day India tour in smog-filled Delhi, after a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, countless fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to see the Argentina and Inter Miami striker.

As Messi, alongside Inter Miami colleagues Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked onto the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and giving signatures – the crowd shouted his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, local media indicated, and his agenda had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans wrecked a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.

A Packed Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, attending a string of marketing 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 virtually presented a massive statue of himself, constructed over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Start in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after disappointed fans destroyed seats and flung items towards the pitch at the stadium.

Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state – of which Kolkata is the capital – and thousands of adoring supporters had forked out up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, the majority failed to see him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short walk around the stadium and then hurriedly escorted away as the situation became tense.

"Faulty planning of a highly anticipated event, disorganization" and security lapses turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "vented their anger by engaging in violence."

The ruckus, 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 sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Peaceful Visits in Other Cities

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the world-famous star online and in media interviews.

Messi also had meetings with several politicians 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 engagements, Messi could be seen greeting large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football 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 scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of Messi's Great Appeal in India

Messi's popularity comes not only from his lengthy international career and wide TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.