Messi in Delhi: The Arun Jaitley Stadium is all set to host football legend Lionel Messi on Monday. With this leg, the GOAT will complete his four-city tour of India. The World Cup-winning Argentine captain arrived in Mumbai around noon on Sunday under what officials described as “World Cup-level” security.
Delhi: Final Stop of Messi’s India Tour
Delhi will be the final destination of Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’. The football icon has already visited Kolkata and Hyderabad earlier during the tour, with Mumbai hosting him on Sunday.
In Delhi, the main events will be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. One of the key highlights of the Delhi leg will be his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Felicitation Ceremony and Celebrity Match Planned
During his Delhi visit, Messi will felicitate teams from Minerva Academy, which have won three youth trophies. A nine-a-side celebrity football match is also scheduled as part of the programme at the stadium.
Public movement around the venue is expected to begin around 11 am, according to reports.
Traffic Advisory Issued Ahead of Messi’s Delhi Visit
Ahead of Messi’s arrival in Delhi, the Delhi Police issued a traffic advisory on Sunday for areas surrounding the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
According to the advisory, traffic diversions will be implemented on Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and Jawaharlal Nehru Marg (JLN Marg). The police also stated that “no heavy vehicles [will be] allowed from Daryaganj to Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and from Guru Nanak Chowk to Asaf Ali Road.”
Messi In Delhi: Routes to Avoid, Entry-Exit Points Shared
In a post on X, Delhi Traffic Police urged residents to avoid JLN Marg, Asaf Ali Road and Bahadurshah Zafar Marg due to heavy movement expected for the Argentine footballer’s tour.
The police have also shared entry and exit points for fans who have purchased tickets to attend the event and see the football icon during his appearance at the stadium.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
