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 in the early hours of 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.
The tour, however, got off to an unfortunate start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Despite the uproar, Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Overall, the tour highlighted Messi's immense popularity in India and the challenges of managing large-scale events involving such high-profile personalities.
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 in the early hours of 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.
The tour, however, got off to an unfortunate start after angry fans ripped up seats and threw items towards the pitch at the stadium. Despite the uproar, Messi's visits to Hyderabad and Mumbai passed smoothly, with fans sharing their delight at seeing the global icon online and in media interviews.
Overall, the tour highlighted Messi's immense popularity in India and the challenges of managing large-scale events involving such high-profile personalities.
