Smooth End to Lionel Messi's Visit to India In the Wake of Disorder in Kolkata

The football star concluded his India tour with an event at a stadium in Delhi on Monday — Messi finished his India tour with an engagement at a stadium in Delhi on Monday.

Football superstar Lionel Messi has finished his multi-day India tour in hazy Delhi, in the wake of a turbulent opening in Kolkata.

On Monday, a multitude of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to catch a sight of the Argentinian and Inter Miami attacker.

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

His aircraft from Mumbai had been held up due to fog, reports stated, and his itinerary had to be shortened. On Saturday, angry fans vandalised a Kolkata stadium because they failed to see him during his appearance there.

A Busy Schedule Across Several Metropolises

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

Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he digitally presented a 21-meter statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a large crew in the eastern city.

Disastrous Start in Football-Loving Kolkata

An admirer holds a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi — A supporter displays a jersey of Messi at the event in Delhi.

The tour, however, began with a troubled 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 a multitude of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees to attend 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 rapidly taken away as the situation grew violent.

"Poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of co-ordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "war zone", as fans – denied even a glimpse of Messi – "expressed their fury by indulging in violence."

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

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

Peaceful Visits in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi played football with children at a stadium in Delhi — Messi played football with kids at a sports arena in Delhi.

Messi's appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans expressing their joy at seeing the international legend online and in media interviews.

Messi also encountered several politicians and celebrities – film actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, political figure Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

Messi virtually unveiled a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata — Messi remotely revealed a 70ft statue of himself in Kolkata.

Messi met Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.

In between these engagements, Messi could be seen acknowledging large fan assemblies 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 departed on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Root of His Immense Fame in India

Messi's fame stems not just from his lengthy international career and broad TV coverage of European football – he's the record scorer for Barcelona – but also the emotional connection that a huge number of Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.