Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour concluded on a high note as the Argentine great departed from Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, where he was hosted by Anant Ambani. The Jamnagar stop marked the final leg of Messi’s multi-city tour across India.
Messi’s India visit included appearances in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, before wrapping up in Jamnagar. A proposed VIP Adidas event at Purana Qila in Delhi did not take place due to time constraints following delays in his schedule.
Unlike the chaos witnessed during the Kolkata leg, the remaining events passed off smoothly, with fans getting a clear glimpse of the football icon. In Delhi, Messi addressed thousands of supporters at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, interacting with fans and players and speaking briefly in Spanish.
The on-field programme featured a celebrity exhibition match between the Minerva Messi All Stars and the Celebrity Messi All Stars. After the match, Messi stepped onto the field for a short interaction with players from both sides.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah felicitated Messi at the stadium, presenting him with an invitational ticket for India’s opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played in Mumbai on February 7, 2026, between India and the USA. Shah also gifted Messi a customised Team India cricket jersey with his name and No. 10 on the back, along with a cricket bat. Messi’s Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, who accompanied him on the tour, were presented with India jerseys bearing No. 9 and No. 7, respectively.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present at the event and later shared a post on X, writing:
“Messi Moment in Delhi! Welcomed the legends Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.”
Messi Moment in Delhi! ⚽
Welcomed the legends Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.#MessiInDelhi pic.x.com/7FEC1LBfGv
— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) December 15, 2025
Rohan Jaitley, President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association, and former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia were also in attendance.
During the Mumbai leg, Messi met several sports and Bollywood personalities at the Wankhede Stadium, including cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, former India football captain Sunil Chhetri, actors Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The Hyderabad leg of the tour was also widely praised for its organisation, standing in contrast to the disorder that marked the Kolkata event.
Overall, the GOAT India Tour ended on a positive note, with fans across cities finally getting their moment with one of football’s greatest-ever players.