Lionel Messi thanked Indian followers after concluding his GOAT India Tour throughout Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi. The tour featured huge fanfare, cricket-football crossovers, conferences with leaders and athletes, and memorable moments regardless of transient chaos in Kolkata.
Argentina soccer icon Lionel Messi thanked India for its love and affection following the conclusion of his ‘GOAT India Tour’, which noticed chaos and some memorable crossovers trending nationwide.
After a visit to Kolkata and Hyderabad on December 13, adopted by a go to to Mumbai the subsequent day, Messi’s India tour concluded with a go to to Delhi on Monday.
Taking to his Instagram, Messi wrote, “Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India!”
To conclude his tour, Messi visited Jamnagar, Gujarat, the place he visited Vantara, a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre based by Anant Ambani, on Monday.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah introduced jerseys of the Indian Cricket crew to star footballers Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Monday.
Football icon Messi’s Delhi go to took one other memorable chapter as he met Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley, alongside his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez, who had been additionally part of Messi’s tour.
The interplay between Lionel Messi and Shah was a heat alternate of gestures, with the ICC Chairman presenting Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul with Indian cricket crew jerseys, symbolising the convergence of two of India’s most beloved sports activities. Messi additionally acquired a particular autographed cricket bat from Shah, making the second a singular fusion of soccer and cricketing heritage.
Messi acquired jersey quantity 10, Suarez acquired quantity 9, and de Paul was introduced with quantity 7, all with their names on them. Shah prolonged an invite to Messi for the upcoming T20 World Cup, presenting him with a ticket to the occasion, making it a standout second in Messi’s closing leg of the G.O.A.T. India Tour.
Messi, Suarez and De Paul entered Arun Jaitley Stadium to a deafening roar from the crowd. Messi, as seen in the earlier legs of the tour, has a kickabout with the kids current at the floor. Messi and his teammates took turns kicking footballs into the crowd, with every kick getting a louder roar than the earlier one.
Messi’s Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour descended into chaos on Saturday as followers who paid excessive ticket costs at Salt Lake Stadium’s occasion started throwing bottles and making an attempt to break the gates between the stands after the Argentine legend left early.
The Argentine soccer legend arrived in the City of Joy early on Saturday morning to an awesome reception from followers. Enthusiastic supporters gathered in giant numbers throughout key areas in Kolkata, keen to catch a glimpse of the world soccer icon, reflecting the immense reputation Messi enjoys in the nation, significantly in West Bengal.
While the second was supposed to be a second of union between the World Cup-winning famous person and a football-crazy state, the presence of VIPs and politicians on the pitch with Messi despatched followers into frenzy as they might barely catch a glimpse of the footballer for whom they’d paid their hard-earned cash.
However, Messi’s go to to Hyderabad was a enjoyable expertise for everybody concerned. He took half in a 7-on-7 exhibition soccer match that includes the state’s Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, soaked up the love from a passionate, loud viewers, and met the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
Similarly, it was a memorable day for cricket and soccer followers alike current at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. Messi, together with footballers Suarez and De Paul, dazzled followers at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The occasion at Wankhede acquired off to an electrical begin, with the well-known Indian DJ Chetas setting the temper by taking part in well-liked tracks alongside vibrant cultural dance performances.
This was adopted by a pleasant soccer match between the Indian Stars, that includes Tiger Shroff, Jim Sarbh, and gamers corresponding to Bala Devi, and the Mitra Stars, led by the legendary Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri and his Bengaluru FC teammates.
Messi additionally shared a hug with Chhetri, an image that resonated with tens of millions of Indian soccer followers.
The occasion concluded on a historic notice when former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar introduced Messi with a Team India jersey, adopted by memorable pictures that includes Tendulkar, Fadnavis, Messi, and his teammates.
(With ANI inputs)
