Messi, along with teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suárez, was also felicitated with a framed cricket bat and a Team India jersey.
Photo: ANI
The final stop of Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour saw the Argentine football great honoured at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here, with International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah presenting him tickets to the India vs USA clash at the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley were also present on the occasion.
Messi, along with teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suárez, was also felicitated with a framed cricket bat and a Team India jersey. Adding a personal touch to the occasion, former India goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, who previously represented West Ham United in the Women’s Premier League, presented signed T-shirts to all three football stars.
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Overwhelmed by the reception at the stadium, Messi acknowledged the fans who gathered to cheer him, saying, “Thank you for all the affection you have shown us here in India over these days. Truly, it was a unique experience for us to be able to share this. Although it was intense and very short, it was wonderful to receive all this love, which I already knew was there, but experiencing it firsthand was incredible. Everything you did for us over these days was astonishing, pure madness. So thank you all for the love, and we will surely return someday, perhaps to play a match or on some other occasion, but we will definitely visit again. Thank you very much, thank you.”
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Messi was scheduled to arrive in the national capital earlier in the day, but his chartered flight was delayed due to foggy conditions. Upon landing, he proceeded directly to a private hotel, where he took part in a closed-door meet-and-greet session with a select group of guests for around an hour.
The GOAT India Tour had begun on a turbulent note in Kolkata, where severe crowd mismanagement at Salt Lake Stadium marred Messi’s appearance. Thousands of fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of the football icon alongside Suárez and de Paul, but inadequate arrangements at the venue turned excitement into frustration.
In Hyderabad, Messi’s visit was more controlled. He participated in photo opportunities, including interacting with children and exchanging pleasantries with officials. He also made a brief appearance on the stadium’s big screen during a club match at the Uppal Stadium, waving to fans from a VIP box.
Messi’s India visit also took him to Mumbai, where he was welcomed at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. He interacted with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, current and former Indian footballers, film personalities, celebrities and political leaders, rounding off a whirlwind tour that blended football stardom with India’s sporting and cultural landscape.
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