Calm Conclusion to Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Kolkata Chaos

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

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

As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, entered the pitch – kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children, and signing autographs – the crowd chanted his name.

His plane from Mumbai had been postponed due to fog, reports reported, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they were unable to view him during his visit there.

An Intense Schedule Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a packed schedule in India, taking part in a string of brand events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the pre-dawn of Saturday.

Before making his way to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally unveiled a 21-meter statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the city in eastern India.

Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Crazy Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after angry fans destroyed seats and hurled 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 ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, many 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.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by resorting to violence."

The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, overshadowed Messi's first visit to India since 2011 for what has been termed a 'GOAT [greatest of all time] tour'.

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

Smooth Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai went off without a hitch, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the international legend online and in press interactions.

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 meetings, Messi could be seen waving to large fan assemblies in stadiums and playing football 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 Source of Messi's Immense Appeal in India

Messi's popularity is due to more than his lengthy international career and extensive TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the deep bond that millions of Indians have with what is often known as the beautiful game.