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 on Saturday. Before heading to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium later that day, he virtually unveiled a 70ft (21m) statue of himself, assembled over 27 days by a 45-strong crew in the eastern city.
However, the tour got off to an unfortunate start as angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium in Kolkata. Many had paid up to 12,000 rupees (£100; $133) to see Messi, but most couldn't glimpse him as he was quickly whisked away by security amid rising tensions.
The ruckus made international headlines, and sparked outrage among fans and the media, with local newspapers citing poor management and security lapses as contributing factors. The event organizer in Kolkata has since been arrested.
Conversely, Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai were uneventful, with fans expressing their joy of seeing the football icon. Throughout his tour, he met various prominent figures, including cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.
Messi's popularity is bolstered by millions of fans in India who connect deeply with the sport, often dubbed 'the beautiful game'.
