New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Argentine football great Lionel Messi along with his fellow World Cup winning compatriot Rodrigo de Paul and former Uruguay star Luis Suarez enthralled football fans at Arun Jaitley stadium here on Monday.
Hordes of fans who packed the stadium and waited for Messi for several hours were not disappointed.
Once he arrived, he greeted the players of the ‘Celebrity Messi All Stars’ and ‘Minerva Messi All Atars’ – the two sides that had played an exhibition match at the stadium today.
After that the trio went around the stadium kicking footballs into the crowds, the 2026 FIFA World Cup official ball, much to the delight of the fans. Lionel Messi, Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez played ‘Rondo’ (single-touch football passing) with budding footballers.
Though the Argentine legend was the star of the show, the crowd was also very appreciative of Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez, as chants of “De Paul, De Paul, Suarez, Suarez” also reverberated around the stadium.
Messi also made a short address to the crowd in Spanish.
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, ICC President Jay Shah and President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association Rohan Jaitley greeted Messi on the stage.
Jay Shah presented Messi with the Team India No 10 jersey, Luis Suarez and De Paul were also presented with Team India jerseys. Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia greeted Messi, De Paul and Suarez on the stage.
This was the fourth and final leg of Messi’s three-day India tour.
His tour started on December 13, when he visited Kolkata and Hyderabad.
From Hyderabad he flew to Mumbai, and he arrived in the national capital from Mumbai
Messi enthralls Delhi audience at Arun Jaitley stadium
