New Delhi: It’s not known whether Lionel Messi knows about cricket. But when the football GOAT is in India, how can he avoid a brush with cricket?
He met cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar at the Wankhede Stadium during the Mumbai leg of GOAT Tour on Sunday. On Monday, Messi’s presence thrilled fans at Delhi’s Arun Jaitly Stadium.
A day after receiving Tendulkar’s 2011 World Cup-winning jersey, the football magician from Argentina and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo de Paul were presented customised jerseys of the Indian cricket team.
Even more touching was International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah’s gesture of inviting Messi to next year’s T20 World Cup in India.
Shah handed over a ceremonial ticket to Messi for the India versus USA group league match to be held at Wankhede Stadium on February 7, 2026.
“In a rare crossover moment for global sport, ICC Chairman Jay Shah met football icon Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul and presented them with #TeamIndia jerseys and a signed bat by the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 winning Indian team in New Delhi,” BCCI tweeted.
🏏⚽️ In a rare crossover moment for global sport, ICC Chairman Jay Shah met football icon Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul and presented them with #TeamIndia jerseys and a signed bat by the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 winning Indian team in New Delhi.@JayShah |… pic.twitter.com/C4uJEJBna1
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 15, 2025
Though Messi didn’t give any assurance, the ICC cricket event will receive a major global boost if the football superstar does make another trip to India on that occasion.
#WATCH | ICC Chairman Jay Shah presents jerseys of the Indian Cricket team to star footballers Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta is also present.#GOATIndiaTour | #Messi𓃵 pic.twitter.com/9fMyAgHwvk
— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2025
Messi’s GOAT India Tour, which began with a flop show on December 13 in Kolkata and was followed by well-organised events at Hyderabad and Mumbai, ended on a memorable not in the national Capital on Monday.
Thousands present at the Kotla, including sporting celebrities and politicians, were delighted to catch a glimpse of a man who has, over the years, wowed fans across the globe with his super special skills with the football.
Arriving at the stadium amid chants of ‘Messi, Messi’, he took a lap of the ground, smiling and waving to spectators many of whom were wearing the famous blue and white Argentine jersey bearing No. 10.
Speaking briefly in Spanish, Messi said, “Gracias Delhi! Hasta pronto (thank you Delhi, see you soon).”
