Lionel Messi India tour highlights: Will be Back,' says Messi as ‘GOAT tour’ comes to end

Lionel Messi has left the Arun Jaitley Stadium, marking the end of today’s event. Following this, he will be heading to the historic Purana Qila in Delhi. Fans gathered at the stadium were treated to an unforgettable experience as the football legend concluded his activities here.

Messi took the microphone to address the fans, delivering a brief speech in Spanish before waving to the cheering crowd. His message, though in Spanish, delighted everyone present.

During his India tour, Lionel Messi was presented with a framed cricket bat by Jay Shah, which he accepted with a smile. He was also gifted an Indian cricket team jersey featuring his iconic #10. Luis Suarez received a jersey with #9, while Rodrigo de Paul got #7.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta has arrived on the field to meet Messi and is accompanied by Jay Shah.

Lionel Messi is sharing an unforgettable experience with young, talented players at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Alongside Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, he dribbles the ball with the children, creating memories they will cherish forever.

Lionel Messi has reached the Leela Palace hotel in Chanakyapuri, Delhi. He will rest briefly before attending a Meet and Greet session at the hotel. Many fans, along with a few notable personalities, are expected at Leela Palace before Messi heads to the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Lionel Messi has arrived at the hotel Leela Palace in Chanakyapuri, Delhi.

A massive crowd of fans is thronging the Arun Jaitley Stadium as they wait for Messi to arrive.

A Lionel Messi fan, said, "Messi is an energy, just like Virat Kohli. Messi is such an inspirational personality...I have been watching him since my childhood...I could not get tickets to the stadium, so I am here, outside Leela Palace. I want to catch a glimpse of him."

Kanav, a Lionel Messi fan, said, "It has been an emotional one for sure. We have been waiting for this moment our entire lives...We never thought he would come to our city. It's crazy! It's unbelievable! We are still not able to believe. I think we have to pinch ourselves. We want to thank him for giving us all the memories...If I have to describe it in one word, it would be 'Magic'. The things he does on the field, it's just magic...From TV transitioning to the stadium, that's like a surreal moment for us...He has been an idol..."

Football icon Lionel Messi arrived in the national capital on Sunday, marking the final leg of his four-city tour of India.

Messi's arrival in Delhi was delayed as his meeting with PM Modi had been cancelled. PM Modi left for his tour to Jordan.

Messi was scheduled to touch down at around 11 AM. Now, he is likely to arrive at 2 PM. He is expected to reach the Arun Jaitley Stadium at around 4 PM.

Messi is expected to head straight to the Arun Jaitley Stadium after a short stop at his hotel in Delhi. He is flying in from Mumbai and is expected to arrive in Delhi around 2 PM.

At the stadium, he will take part in cultural programmes and a celebrity football match. Later, Messi will attend an Adidas event at Purana Qila and leave for the airport around 8 PM.

Lionel Messi left from the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai to fly to Delhi. He travelled to the airport in a secure Toyota. A convoy of cars, including an ambulance, accompanied him. Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul were also with him.

‘Laal Phool Peela Phool, Messi Bhai beautiful,’ fans cheer in Delhi

Messi will fly from Mumbai to Delhi on a chartered flight and is expected to arrive around 12:30 PM. After the cultural programmes, felicitation and celebrity match at the Kotla, Messi will attend an Adidas event at Purana Qila. He is then expected to leave for the airport around 8 PM.

According to TOI, trouble began when someone tried to force an autograph and accidentally scratched Messi with his pen. This alarmed his security, and Messi then chose to leave. His fans, unaware of this, grew angry and damaged the stadium. Losses are estimated at ₹2.5 crore.

While it was widely expected that Lionel Messi would meet PM Modi in Delhi, the Indian prime minister left for Jordan. PM Modi started his four-day tour to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman on Monday. The first leg takes him to Jordan on 15-16 December at the invitation of King Abdullah II.

Messi’s Delhi visit coincides with Delhi’s air quality slipping into the hazardous or severe-plus category on 15 December. The Arun Jaitley Stadium (Feroz Shah Kotla) is currently around the 268 mark (very unhealthy), according to AQICN.

Authorities have implemented GRAP-4, triggering emergency measures such as school closures and vehicle restrictions. Even brief outdoor exposure can harm health.

Messi is scheduled to have a private meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to be there. Some reports suggest the meeting could also include the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief Justice of India.

Virat Kohli is likely to meet Lionel Messi in Delhi. In Mumbai, Messi met Sachin Tendulkar while he met Sourav Ganguly in Kolkata.

Delhi Police has announced traffic restrictions in central Delhi. Parking will be prohibited around Arun Jaitley Stadium. Illegally-parked vehicles will be towed and fined. The public has been advised to use the metro and bus services to avoid congestion.

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The main events are set to take place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. During the Delhi leg of the tour, Messi will also felicitate Minerva Academy’s teams, who have won three major youth trophies.

After attending fan events in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai, Lionel Messi comes to Delhi today. On the final day of his India tour, he will be accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.