Football superstar Lionel Messi has wrapped up his three-day India tour in pollution-choked Delhi, after a chaotic opening in Kolkata.
On Monday, thousands of fans gathered in a Delhi stadium to get a glimpse of the Argentina and Inter Miami forward.
As Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, strolled the pitch - kicking balls into the stands, passing with a group of children and signing autographs - the crowd chanted his name.
His flight to the Indian capital from Mumbai was delayed due to fog and poor visibility, local media reported, and his itinerary had to be trimmed.
Messi kept a packed schedule in India, attending a string of promotional events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai since arriving early on Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
The tour, however, got off to an unfortunate start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium.
Football is hugely popular in West Bengal state - Kolkata's capital, and thousands of adoring supporters had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to catch a glimpse of Messi. Unfortunately, most of them couldn’t even see him as he was surrounded by officials and celebrities on his brief walk around the stadium and quickly whisked away when the situation turned hostile.
Kolkata's The Telegraph newspaper reported that poor management of a hyped-up event, lack of coordination and security lapses turned the stadium into a battlefield, as fans vented their anger.
The incident made international headlines and 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 organizer in Kolkata has been arrested, police said, and a city court has remanded Satadru Dutta to 14 days in police custody.
Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed smoothly, with fans expressing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Messi also met several politicians and celebrities during his tour - including Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai.
Despite reports that Messi would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, the Indian Prime Minister left the country on Monday morning for a scheduled visit to Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman.
Messi's popularity not only stems from his illustrious international career but also reflects the emotional connection that millions of Indians have with the sport.
