NEW DELHI, India — Thousands of fans thronged Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday to catch a glimpse of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi, with the high-profile visit passing off smoothly and drawing widespread praise for the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) and Delhi Police.
Supporters lauded the seamless arrangements and disciplined crowd management, noting that the event remained focused on fans without VIP or political disruption. “This was truly for fans. Everything was well managed and peaceful,” said a college student in attendance. Another supporter added, “Hats off to DDCA and Delhi Police for such disciplined crowd control.”
Towards the end of the event, DDCA President Rohan Jaitley, ICC Chairman Jay Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta met Messi at the stadium. Jay Shah presented the football icon with tickets for the India vs USA Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Messi, along with fellow Argentine stars Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez, was presented with a framed cricket bat and a Team India jersey.
Former India goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan also gifted signed T-shirts to the trio, bringing the GOAT India Tour event in Delhi to a memorable close.
The smooth conduct in Delhi followed heightened security measures across cities hosting Messi after his visit to Kolkata descended into chaos. Authorities in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi reportedly took tighter control of arrangements following unrest at Salt Lake Stadium earlier in the tour.
Messi’s appearance in Kolkata ended abruptly after angry spectators, upset over limited access despite purchasing high-priced tickets, caused damage inside the stadium. Police were forced to carry out a large-scale lathi charge and deploy Rapid Action Force personnel to restore order, after which Messi left the venue earlier than scheduled.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was en route to the stadium at the time, turned back after being informed of the unrest. She later announced the formation of a judicial committee to investigate the alleged mismanagement that led to the incident. (Source: IANS)
