Football legend Lionel Messi has returned to Argentina after a whirlwind three-day visit to India, praising the warm welcome and expressing hope for the sport’s future in the country.
In a social media post, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner called the tour “an incredible visit,” thanking fans for their hospitality and affection. “I hope football has a bright future in India,” Messi wrote on Instagram, hinting at a future return to play a match in the nation.
Messi’s tour – accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez – saw him engaging with fans, playing with children on the field, signing autographs and appearing at major events across multiple cities.
The visit culminated with a passionate appearance at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where thousands gathered to catch a glimpse of the global icon.
The energy was electric as fans clad in Argentina jerseys chanted Messi’s name, waved flags, and cheered enthusiastically.
Among the dignitaries present were Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, International Cricket Council Chairman Jay Shah, and former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who joined the celebration of one of the sport’s greatest players.
Despite speaking in Spanish, Messi’s remarks resonated as fans absorbed his gratitude and admiration.
“Well, I just want to thank everyone for the love and affection during these days in India,” Messi told the crowd.
“It was a truly beautiful experience for us to share. Although it was short and intense, it was wonderful to receive all this love directly. We will definitely return –hopefully one day to play a match.”
Messi’s appearances in Hyderabad and Mumbai earlier in the tour passed smoothly, with the trio occasionally kicking balls into the stands and interacting with local children.
In Delhi, as confetti rained down, Messi and his teammates also received personalised Indian cricket jerseys: Messi was presented with a No. 10 shirt, while Suárez and De Paul received Nos. 9 and 7 respectively, presented by Mr Shah. They were also gifted tickets to the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
While the India tour began turbulently in Kolkata, where crowd disruptions at the Salt Lake Stadium led to police intervention, subsequent events went off without incident.
Fans at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium described the visit as a dream come true, even if brief. “It was unreal to see him live,” said Kaustav Ghosh, an ardent Messi and Argentina supporter, who attended with his family.
Another fan, Amog Purohit, said the experience was worth the long wait despite Messi’s short stage time.
Messi’s tour highlighted an enthusiastic fanbase in a nation where cricket traditionally dominates.
His visit provided a rare moment for Indian football supporters to celebrate the sport up close and underscored growing interest in football in the country.
The Argentina star’s promise to return – ideally for a match – has further fuelled anticipation among fans and organisers alike.
Messi, Suarez, and De Paul capped their time in India with rounds of applause and exchanges with local youth players, signing footballs and posing for photos. “We carry all this love with us,” Messi said. “We will definitely return to visit India. Thank you very much.”
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17 Dec 2025 17:48
