Sports & Games Global News

Messi wraps up India tour, leaving fans smiling on and off the field

author-image
Piyush Singh
New Update
1000437335

Fans across India took to social media to share their excitement, posting photos, videos and messages celebrating Messi’s visit.

Lionel Messi has concluded his three-day visit to India, leaving behind moments of celebration for fans across the country, many of whom took to social media to express their excitement at simply seeing him in India, even if they were not present at the venues. Photos and videos of Messi waving to crowds, playing football with children, signing autographs and smiling on the pitch were widely shared online, with fans calling the visit emotional and historic, especially for a country where football passion often lives through television screens rather than live appearances.

Messi’s final stop was Delhi on 15th December, where thousands gathered at a stadium to catch a glimpse, despite heavy pollution and delays caused by fog that reportedly forced changes to his schedule. Accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, Messi walked onto the pitch, kicked balls into the stands, passed with a group of children and acknowledged the crowd as chants of his name echoed through the stadium.

He also spent time playing football with children at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Messi joined a group of boys and girls wearing Argentina jerseys, sharing light drills and smiles on the field with his young fans.

Also Read: A conversation with Parth Chadha on how community platforms are bridging the gap for tier 2 and 3 creators

Reactions on social media poured in from across the country:

The tour, however, had begun on a troubled note in Kolkata, where disappointment among fans turned into chaos after many did not get to see Messi during his appearance at Salt Lake Stadium. Anger spilled over as seats were damaged and objects were thrown towards the pitch, with reports pointing to poor crowd management and security lapses at the heavily hyped event. Thousands of supporters were left frustrated as Messi was surrounded by officials and celebrities during a short walk around the stadium before being escorted away as tensions rose.

Earlier that day, Messi had virtually unveiled a 70-foot statue of himself in Kolkata, built over 27 days by a team of 45 people, a gesture meant to underline the city’s deep love for football and for the player often referred to as the greatest of all time. 

Beyond the stadium appearances, Messi’s visit also included meetings with several prominent figures, with his interaction with Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri drawing the most attention on social media. He also met Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan in Kolkata, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Hyderabad, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in Mumbai. Earlier reports had suggested a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, but it did not take place as Modi had left on an overseas visit.

Messi’s immense popularity in India goes beyond his record-breaking career and years of European football broadcasts and reflects the strong emotional bond many Indians share with football.

What’s your take on the whole tour? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow us for more such content on@socialketchup

sunil chhetri and leo messi Lionel Messi Messi playing football Messi's India Tour Messi’s India visit