Messi in the capital, then to Vantara: GOAT India tour moves from Delhi to Jamnagar

Football icon Lionel Messi concluded the Delhi leg of his GOAT India Tour on Monday evening with a packed event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium , bringing his three-city India visit to a close. Accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul , Messi spent time with young footballers, interacted with fans, and took part in a ceremonial programme that blended football with cricketing symbolism.

Messi arrived in the capital earlier in the day after weather-related delays caused by dense fog . He later reached the stadium to loud cheers from thousands of fans, many wearing Argentina’s No. 10 jersey . During his appearance, Messi took a lap of the ground, signed autographs for children, kicked footballs into the stands, and watched the closing stages of a celebrity exhibition match.

A key moment of the evening was when ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented Messi with a framed cricket bat and a Team India jersey bearing the No. 10, while Suarez and De Paul received jerseys with their respective numbers. Former Indian football great Bhaichung Bhutia , ex-India goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan , and DDCA President Rohan Jaitley were also present on the field.

Addressing the crowd briefly in Spanish, Messi thanked Indian fans for the warm reception and said the team would “definitely return” to India in the future, drawing loud applause from the stands. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also met the footballers during the event, which saw an estimated 25,000 spectators at the venue.

While there were earlier expectations of additional high-level meetings during the Delhi leg, no such interactions took place due to time constraints following the delayed arrival.

The Delhi event marked the final public stop of Messi’s India tour , which earlier included appearances in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai . Across cities, the tour combined fan interactions, cultural performances, and exhibition matches aimed at promoting football in India.

Following the conclusion of the Delhi programme, Messi, Suarez, and De Paul travelled to Jamnagar, Gujarat , later on December 15. Messi then went to Vantara , the 3,000-acre wildlife rescue centre , where he was hosted by Anant Ambani . The trio is expected to stay overnight at the facility.

Vantara is among the world’s largest animal rescue projects and is home to over 200 elephants , 300 big cats , and hundreds of deer and antelopes , offering the footballers a quieter conclusion to a high-profile India tour.