Lionel Messi the highly anticipated GOAT tour of India brought together some of the country’s most famous athletes for a rare and memorable exchange. During a promotional photo shoot in New Delhi, Messi met Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav, javelin gold medalist Sumit Antil and high jumper Nishad Kumar and other sports personalities.
Wearing the Indian cricket jersey presented to him by International Cricket Council Chairman Jay Shah In New Delhi on Monday, Messi looked engaged and delighted as the Indian stars took the opportunity to meet, interact and collect autographs from the football legend.
In widely shared clips on social media, Sumit Antil introduced himself to Messi and received an autographed spear, while Nishad Kumar got his spikes autographed. Kuldeep Yadav, one of the biggest fans of Messi and his former club Barcelona in Indian cricket, was visibly overwhelmed as he relished the opportunity to meet the football great in the flesh.
Organized by Adidas India, the gathering also featured India’s World Cup-winning pacer Renuka Singh Thakur and boxing champion Nikhat Zareen, who joined the group for a commemorative photo with Messi and his Argentina team-mate Rodrigo de Paul. Boxer Nikhat Zareen, NIshad Kumar, Rodrigo de Paul, Lionel Messi, Kuldeep Yadav, Sumit Antil and Renuka Thakur (Courtesy: Adidas India)
The GOAT India tour spanned four cities – Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi – and revealed the emotional spectrum of Indian sports fandom. In Kolkata, considered the football capital of India, thousands of supporters packed the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Krirangan, with some fans saving for months to secure tickets. However, the overcrowded playground and security will pass shortened Messi’s appearance to under ten minutes, leaves many disappointed.
Hyderabad offered a more positive experience. Messi played football with children, recognized local academies and completed several laps on the ground. With prominent figures like Rahul Gandhi present but remaining in the background, the focus remained on the athletes and their interactions with Messi. The crowd responded warmly as Messi thanked them for their support, reinforcing the significance of his visit.
Bombay was characterized by emotion and smooth organization. The highlight was Messi’s meeting with Sachin Tendulkar, who gifted him a 2011 Cricket World Cup jersey. Messi also met Indian football great Sunil Chhetri at the Wankhede Stadium where fans cheered on both legends.
Messi took part in a friendly penalty shootout and interacted with children from Project Mahadeva, a local football initiative of the Maharashtra government. Joined by Luis Surez and Rodrigo de Paul, Messi contributed to a lively session that included playful moments and recognition of young footballing talent.
The final in Delhi faced delays due to fog, limiting Messi’s scheduled activities to a brief appearance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Still, the stands remained full as Messi greeted the crowd and circled the ground. He addressed the fans in Spanish, describing the trip as “short but intense” and expressing his gratitude for their support. Jay Shah presented Messi with a ticket for India’s inaugural T20 World Cup 2026 and the number 10 jersey of the Indian cricket team.
Messi concluded the tour with a visit to Anant Ambani’s Vantara, a non-commercial wildlife rescue center in Jamnagar, where he was seen indulging in traditional Hindu rituals while enjoying wildlife sightings.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
December 18, 2025
