'Massive love and unforgettable experience, will surely return'; Lionel Messi completes GOAT India tour

NEW DELHI: Argentine football legend Lionel Messi bid adieu to India after receiving immense love from four cities in the past three days. Tens of thousands of fans came to see Messi on his GOAT India tour, which began in Kolkata on Saturday and ended in Delhi yesterday. Only Kolkata faced problems due to organisational flubs. The events held on the first day in Hyderabad, the second day in Mumbai and yesterday in Delhi were meticulously executed.

Messi returned after thanking the country and the people for the love showered on him. The football legend promised that he would return to India soon to play a friendly. Messi was earlier supposed to visit Kerala to play a friendly, but the plan was retracted later.

The Argentine Football Association announced that Kerala will be considered in the next international window. With Messi's promise of a return, there is reason to keep hopes alive for football enthusiasts in Kerala.

Messi was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, but the meeting had to be cancelled after the Prime Minister left for Jordan on Monday. Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan were expected to receive Messi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, but they did not show up. When Messi walked past the Virat Kohli Pavilion at the stadium, people shouted 'Kohli, Kohli'. Former Indian football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia had also arrived at the stadium to meet Messi.

“This love feels like a miracle. The welcome we have received in the past few days has been unforgettable. I hope we can come to this land again to play a match. I thank every Indian for this love.” - Lionel Messi