Delhi, 15 December (H.S.): Hours before Argentine football legend Lionel Messi’s scheduled appearance in the national capital, Delhi transformed into a city of football frenzy on Monday. Ahead of the final leg of his “GOAT India Tour 2025,” thousands of excited fans gathered outside Arun Jaitley Stadium, chanting “Messi! Messi!” as anticipation reached fever pitch.
The streets around the stadium echoed with chants and cheers as fans, many holding Messi posters and Argentina flags, waited eagerly to catch a fleeting glimpse of their idol. Several supporters queued in long lines, singing songs and waving blue-and-white flags, turning the area into a sea of celebration.
Messi’s Delhi visit marks the concluding stop of his Indian tour, following successful events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. While his appearance in Kolkata was marred by organizational chaos and crowd mismanagement, subsequent programs in Hyderabad and Mumbai were held with flawless coordination and huge fan participation.
In Mumbai, on Sunday, Messi stole hearts during a spectacular event at the Wankhede Stadium, joined by his long-time teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. The evening opened with live music by renowned Indian DJ Chetas, followed by dazzling cultural dance performances that set the stage ablaze.
The highlight of the night was a celebrity exhibition football match between Team India Stars and Team Mitra Stars, featuring Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff, footballer Bala Devi, and actor Jim Sarbh, among others. The Mitra Stars were captained by Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, who shared a memorable on-field moment with Messi.
Messi delighted fans by kicking footballs into the audience and presenting Chhetri with a signed Argentina jersey, drawing loud cheers from the packed stands. He also received a commemorative memento from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who hailed Messi as a “global icon of sportsmanship and inspiration.”
The evening concluded on a historic note when former Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar presented Messi with an Indian team jersey, symbolizing unity between India’s two greatest sporting passions — cricket and football.
The two legends, along with Fadnavis, Suárez, and De Paul, posed for a memorable photograph that instantly went viral across social media, encapsulating the spirit of the event.With Delhi now hosting the final chapter of the GOAT India Tour, excitement is at an all-time high as fans prepare to witness one of the most iconic athletes of modern times grace Indian soil one last time before concluding his visit.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
