Calm Conclusion to Lionel Messi's India Tour In the Wake of Unrest in Kolkata

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

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

As Messi, joined 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 shouted his name.

His flight from Mumbai had been held up 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 Busy Itinerary Spanning Several Metropolises

Messi had a hectic schedule in India, participating in a series of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since touching down in the wee hours of Saturday.

Before traveling to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, built over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.

Chaotic Kickoff in Football-Loving Kolkata

The tour, however, began with a disastrous start after frustrated fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.

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

However, many didn't even get to see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and then quickly whisked away as the situation grew violent.

"Inept organization of a much-publicized event, poor coordination" and safety failures turned the stadium into a "battlefield", as fans – prevented from seeing of Messi – "released their frustration by indulging in violence."

The disturbance, which grabbed international headlines, marred 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 arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in custody.

Peaceful Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai

Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai concluded peacefully, with fans showing their happiness at seeing the world-famous star on social media and in press interactions.

Messi also had meetings with several political figures 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 greeting large fan assemblies in stadiums and dribbling 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 left the country on Monday morning on a planned visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.

The Source of His Great Appeal in India

Messi's popularity 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 deep bond that countless Indians have with what is often called the beautiful game.