Peaceful Finish to Messi's Visit to India After Kolkata Chaos

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

On Monday, thousands of fans congregated in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of 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 giving signatures – the crowd chanted his name.

His aircraft from Mumbai had been delayed due to fog, local media stated, and his schedule had to be trimmed. On Saturday, angry fans damaged a Kolkata stadium because they didn't get to see him during his event there.

A Packed 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 landing in the wee hours of Saturday.

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

Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, got off to a disastrous start after angry fans ripped up 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 countless ardent supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to witness the event.

However, most of them were unable to catch a glimpse of him as he was enveloped by officials and celebrities on his short 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 – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by resorting to violence."

The ruckus, which made international headlines, cast a shadow over 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has sent Satadru Dutta to 14 days in detention.

Successful Engagements in Other Cities

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

Messi also met 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 interactions, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan gatherings in stadiums and playing football with groups of children.

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

The Source of His Great Popularity in India

Messi's fame stems not just 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 millions of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.