At the final event of Lionel Messi’s highly publicised GOAT India Tour in Delhi, International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah honoured the football great in a unique way. On December 15, during the concluding stop of his tour at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Shah presented Messi with the first official ticket for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match between India and the USA, a gesture that delighted the assembled fans and guests.
The event also saw the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and DDCA President Rohan Jaitley, adding to the buzz surrounding the ceremony. Alongside the prized match ticket, Messi was gifted a framed cricket bat and a Team India jersey, symbolising a warm cross-sport welcome to one of football’s biggest icons.
Celebrating Friendship Between Sports and Cultures
The atmosphere at the stadium was electric as Messi accepted the gifts, not merely as tokens but as symbols of friendship between cricket and football cultures. Also recognised with memorabilia were his Argentine teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez, who accompanied him throughout the tour and shared in the public acclaim.
Beyond the formal honours, former Indian women’s international Aditi Chauhan presented signed T-shirts to Messi and his colleagues, further enhancing the spirit of mutual respect between Indian sports and visiting stars.
Messi took the opportunity to address the crowd with heartfelt words, expressing his gratitude for the energy and affection shown to him in India. “Thank you for all the affection you have shown us here in India over these days. Truly, it was a unique experience for us to be able to share this,” he said, reflecting on the reception he and his team received.
He added, “Although it was intense and very short, it was wonderful to receive all this love… Everything you did for us over these days was astonishing, pure madness.” Messi concluded with a promise, saying, “We will surely return someday — perhaps to play a match or on some other occasion — but we will definitely visit again.”
Highlights and Behind-the-Scenes
The evening capped off an India visit that mixed celebration with logistical challenges. Messi’s charter flight into New Delhi had been delayed earlier in the day because of foggy weather, yet the reception did not dampen enthusiasm.
His tour included stops in multiple cities, where he engaged with fans and participated in various ceremonial activities, showcasing the growing influence and affection for football in a nation traditionally dominated by cricket.
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