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Lionel Messi has arrived in New Delhi, marking the final leg of his G.O.A.T India Tour 2025. He reached the Leela Palace hotel in Chanakyapuri to attend the private meet-and-greet with selected guests. He will shortly attend the public event of the tour at the Arun Jaitley Stadium (Feroz Shah Kotla Ground).
A meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was earlier expected, will not take place, as the PM has departed on a four-day, three-nation tour covering Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman.
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Spectators flocked to the Arun Jaitley Stadium to witness their favorite footballer.
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#WATCH | Delhi: Football fans arrive at Arun Jaitley Stadium to watch football star Lionel Messi. The Argentine footballer will be here for the fourth and final leg of his G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025. pic.x.com/ln0zY3tua6
— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2025
Messi will also mentor 22-30 young footballers from Minerva Academy during the event. The programme will conclude with Indian cricketers presenting gifts to Messi, who is expected to hand over signed jerseys to participants.
Separately, an Adidas-hosted event is scheduled at Purana Qila, with prominent Indian sportspersons including Rohit Sharma, Nikhat Zareen and Sumit Antil expected to attend. Virat Kohli is also rumoured to be part of the gathering after landing in Delhi with his wife, Anushka Sharma, on Sunday.
Messi is expected to depart from Delhi around 8:00 pm, concluding his maiden multi-city India tour.
Delhi Traffic Police issues travel advisory
The Delhi Traffic Police has issued a travel advisory, warning of slow-moving traffic in areas around the Arun Jaitley Stadium during the event hours.
“In connection with the “LIONEL MESSI G.O.A.T INDIA TOUR – DELHI LEG” at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ferozshah Kotla Ground on 15.12.2025 (01:00 PM – 04:00 PM), traffic movement is expected to remain slow / affected in and around the stadium due to traffic regulations and spectator movement.” as per Delhi Traffic Police post on X.
As per the advisory, commuters have been asked to avoid:
- JLN Marg (Rajghat to Delhi Gate up to R/A Kamla Market)
- Asaf Ali Road (Turkman Gate to Delhi Gate)
- Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg (Delhi Gate to Ramcharan Aggarwal Chowk/ITO)
TRAFFIC ADVISORY
In connection with the “LIONEL MESSI G.O.A.T INDIA TOUR – DELHI LEG” at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Ferozshah Kotla Ground on 15.12.2025 (01:00 PM – 04:00 PM), traffic movement is expected to remain slow / affected in and around the stadium due to traffic regulations… pic.x.com/KD9Sjj3OjU
— Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) December 14, 2025
The Delhi leg follows a successful Mumbai chapter of the GOAT India Tour, where Messi, along with his Inter Miami and Argentina teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, met several sports and Bollywood personalities. In Mumbai, Messi interacted with Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Chhetri, Harbhajan Singh, and film stars Tiger Shroff, Jim Sarbh, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, who attended the event with her sons Taimur and Jeh.
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