Football icon Lionel Messi arrived in New Delhi on Monday, marking the final destination of his extensively anticipated ‘GOAT India Tour’ 2025. The Argentine World Cup champion’s arrival was managed under stringent security protocols following a series of successful appearances across the country.
The Delhi leg concludes a multi-city tour that previously visited Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. While the Kolkata event encountered organizational challenges, the Hyderabad and Mumbai segments proceeded flawlessly, drawing massive crowds and generating tremendous excitement among Indian football enthusiasts.
Outside Arun Jaitley Stadium, fervent supporters created an electric atmosphere with continuous chants of ‘Messi, Messi’ while displaying commemorative posters of their sporting hero. Saurab Aggarwal, one dedicated fan, revealed to ANI that he had been anticipating this moment for nearly a decade since Messi’s previous visit in 2011: ‘We were planning this day for the last 3-4 months. We’ve been waiting for this day for a decade and are incredibly excited to be here.’ Another admirer expressed even stronger emotions, stating: ‘It feels like we are about to see God.’
The tour’s previous stop in Mumbai featured spectacular events at Wankhede Stadium where Messi appeared alongside fellow football stars Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. The evening commenced with dynamic performances by renowned Indian DJ Chetas, who energized the crowd with popular music selections complemented by vibrant cultural dance presentations.
A highlight included an exhibition match between Indian Stars (featuring actor Tiger Shroff and Jim Sarbh alongside player Bala Devi) and Mitra Stars, captained by Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri with his Bengaluru FC teammates. Messi created unforgettable moments by kicking footballs into spectator areas and presenting Chhetri with a personally signed Argentina jersey.
The Mumbai event concluded with significant ceremonial exchanges as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis honored Messi with a commemorative gift. In a historic cross-sports moment, cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar presented Messi with an official Team India jersey, symbolizing the mutual respect between two sporting legends from different disciplines.