ICC chairman Jay Shah gifted Lionel Messi India’s T20 World Cup 2026 jersey during a special event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on December 15, 2025. The jersey had Messi’s name and number printed on it. Jay Shah also presented Messi with a match ticket for the India vs USA T20 World Cup game.
Messi was visiting Delhi on the final day of his GOAT India tour. He attended the event along with footballers Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul, who were also given Indian team jerseys. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia were present at the stadium.
At the time of his arrival, an exhibition match between Celebrity Messi All Stars and Minerva Messi All Stars was in progress, with Minerva Messi All Stars winning the match 6–0. He was given a warm reception as the packed stadium erupted in cheers, with fans turning up in large numbers to see the football legend in person.
He addressed the fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during the final day of the GOAT India Tour in Delhi. He thanked Indian fans for the love and affection shown throughout his visit and said the experience was truly beautiful for him and his team. Messi also confirmed that he would return to India in the future, either to play a match or to visit again.
Messi said, “We carry all this love with us – we will definitely come back – hopefully one day to play a match or on another occasion, but we will surely return to visit India. Thank you very much. I want to thank everyone for the love and affection shown during these days in India – it has been a truly wonderful experience for us.”
Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025 Concludes with Grand Finale in Delhi
The Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour 2025 reaches its final stop in Delhi after successful events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. In Delhi, Messi arrived from Mumbai in the morning and stayed at The Leela Palace Hotel, where scheduled meet-and-greet sessions took place, including one alongside Rodrigo De Paul. In the afternoon, Messi met top Indian officials such as the Chief Justice of India, the Army Chief, and the Argentine Ambassador.
Later, he attended a grand welcome event at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, which had live music, a celebrity football match, and direct fan interaction. Messi also took part in a football clinic involving 22 children, observed rondo drills, and stepped onto the field for a ceremonial exchange of gifts with Indian cricketers. The event included a formal welcome by the Delhi Chief Minister and stadium officials, after which Messi will present a trophy to the celebrity match winners.
In the evening, Messi will attend an Adidas event at Purana Quila and meet Indian sporting stars such as Rohit Sharma, Sumit Antil, Nikhat Zareen, and Nishad Kumar. He is scheduled to leave for the airport in the evening, with his flight departing Delhi at 8 PM.
FAQs
Q. Who gifted Lionel Messi India’s T20 World Cup jersey?
A. ICC chairman Jay Shah gifted Lionel Messi the India T20 World Cup 2026 jersey.
Q. Where was the jersey presented to Messi?
A. The jersey was presented at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Q. Which footballers were with Messi during the Delhi event?
A. Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul were present with Lionel Messi.
Q. What did Messi say to Indian fans during the event?
A. Messi thanked Indian fans for their love and said the experience was beautiful.
Q. Did Messi say he would return to India in the future?
A. Yes, Messi confirmed he would return to India again, either to play or to visit.
Get the Latest Cricket Updates at IceCric.News. Also, Follow Our Social Media for live updates on Facebook and Instagram.
