Messi Concludes India Tour with Delhi Celebration

Lionel Messi concluded his three-day GOAT India Tour on December 15 in New Delhi, where thousands of fans filled the Arun Jaitley Stadium for a celebratory lap of honor and a special invitation to the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The Argentine soccer legend, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, interacted with young players during a football clinic and received gifts symbolizing a bridge between soccer and cricket, capping a tour that drew massive crowds across four Indian cities despite an earlier incident of unrest in Kolkata.

The event at the cricket venue, typically home to India's national sport, highlighted the growing crossover appeal of soccer in the country. ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented Messi with the first official ticket to the T20 World Cup's opening match between India and the United States on February 7, 2026, at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Shah also gifted Messi a framed cricket bat autographed by the Indian team and customized Team India jerseys bearing Messi's No. 10, as well as Nos. 9 and 7 for Suárez and De Paul. Messi, who plays in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, kicked soccer balls into the stands and posed for...