Lionel Messi Concludes India Tour in Delhi, Says He Will Definitely Return to Play a Match

Lionel Messi brought his much talked about India tour to a close in New Delhi on Monday, leaving fans with memorable moments and a promise of returning to the country to play a match.

Despite a delayed arrival due to fog, the Argentine legend received a rousing welcome as he stepped into the national capital, capping off a whirlwind visit across multiple Indian cities.

Warm welcome at Arun Jaitley Stadium

Messi visited the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where a packed crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the football icon. Accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez, he took a lap around the ground and kicked footballs towards cheering fans in the stands.

The trio also spent time on the field interacting with children, playing light games, signing autographs and posing for photographs, creating a lively and emotional atmosphere inside the stadium.

Messi's heartfelt message to Indian fans

During the felicitation ceremony, Messi addressed the crowd in Spanish and expressed his gratitude for the affection he received throughout the tour.

"I just want to thank everyone for the love and affection during these days in India. In fact, it was a truly beautiful experience for us to be able to share it", he said.

Reflecting on the intensity of the visit, Messi added, "And although it was short and intense, it was wonderful to receive all this love that I knew existed, but receiving it directly was amazing. It was a crazy experience, everything they did for us these days."

'We will definitely return,' says Messi

Messi concluded his speech by assuring fans that this would not be his last visit to the country.

"So, we carry all this love with us, and we will definitely return, hopefully one day to play a match or on another occasion, but we will definitely return to visit India. Thank you very much," he said.

Meetings with leaders and tour highlights

During his time in Delhi, Messi also met Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and ICC chairman Jay Shah. Shah presented Indian cricket team jerseys to Messi, Suarez and De Paul, while the Argentine star received a specially framed cricket bat as a souvenir.

The Delhi leg stood out as a deeply personal experience for Messi, allowing him close interaction with young fans, a contrast to the more controversial episode during his earlier visit to Kolkata. Apart from Delhi, Messi's India tour also included stops in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Mumbai, making it a landmark visit for Indian football fans.