ICC chairman Jay Shah recently met global football icon Lionel Messi during the Argentine legend’s high-profile visit to India as part of the much-celebrated GOAT India Tour. The meeting marked a rare and symbolic crossover between cricket and football, two of the world’s most followed sports, and underlined India’s growing stature as a global sporting destination.
Lionel Messi arrived in India amid massive fanfare, with thousands turning up across multiple cities to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning superstar. The GOAT Tour kicked off in Kolkata, then moved through Hyderabad and Mumbai, and concluded in New Delhi, where the tour’s biggest event was held at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Fans packed the venue well before Messi’s arrival, creating an electric atmosphere that reflected his immense popularity in the country. During his Delhi visit, Jay Shah met Messi along with his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez. The ICC chairman honoured the Argentine trio with a special gesture, presenting them with ICC T20 World Cup jerseys customised with their names and jersey numbers.
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Shah also gifted Messi a signed cricket bat, a symbolic token celebrating the shared values of excellence and global appeal across sports. In addition, Messi was presented with tickets for the India vs USA match in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, further strengthening the cricket-football connection.
लियोन मेसी को टी20 क्रिकेट विश्व कप की टिकट के साथ साइन किया हुआ बल्ला और क्रिकेट की जर्सी देते आइसीसी चेयरमैन जय शाह pic.twitter.com/UyDaOTMIZ2
— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) December 15, 2025
ICC CHAIRMAN JAY SHAH HANDED INDIA vs USA T20I WC MATCH TICKETS TO MESSI 🐐 pic.twitter.com/DVgyeYi5g8
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 15, 2025
Messi’s appearance at the stadium came after an exhibition match between Celebrity Messi All Stars and Minerva Messi All Stars, which the Minerva side won convincingly by a 6-0 margin. Once Messi walked into the arena, the crowd erupted with chants, banners, and nonstop applause welcoming the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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Earlier in the tour, Messi was hosted in Mumbai by Indian sporting greats ,including Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Chhetri, and Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, highlighting the mutual respect shared by legends across disciplines. Speaking to fans during the Delhi event, Messi expressed deep gratitude for the overwhelming love he received in India and promised to return in the future, calling the experience “truly beautiful” and unforgettable.
The GOAT India Tour not only celebrated Messi’s legacy but also showcased India’s passion for global sport, bridging cultures through admiration, respect, and shared sporting dreams.
