Not India vs Pakistan! Jay Shah invites Lionel Messi for THIS T20 World Cup 2026 game

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In a historic convergence of two global sporting cultures, the final leg of the Lionel Messi‘s “G.O.A.T. India Tour” concluded with a breathtaking finale in the national capital. The journey, which had already seen thousands of fans flock to Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, reached its emotional peak at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on December 15, 2025.

Amidst “Messi, Messi” chants that roared through the jam-packed stands, the legendary forward was greeted by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, marking a symbolic bridge between the worlds of football and cricket. Before bidding a final farewell to his Indian admirers, the Argentine icon spent time on the pitch interacting with young talents, participating in a football clinic, and sharing a lap of honor that left the Delhi crowd in a state of absolute euphoria.

The highlight of the evening unfolded during a grand felicitation ceremony where Jay Shah presented the football icon with an unprecedented gift, the first official invitational ticket to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. In a move that surprised many, the invitation was not for a traditional blockbuster like India vs. Pakistan, but for the tournament’s high-profile opening fixture: India vs USA. Scheduled for February 7, 2026, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the choice of match perfectly aligns with Messi’s current professional chapter in Major League Soccer (MLS) with Inter Miami.

Beyond the ticket, Shah honored the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner with a framed cricket bat autographed by the Indian team and a customized Team India jersey featuring his signature No. 10. This rare crossover moment was designed to inspire millions of children across the subcontinent, showcasing a mutual respect between the leaders of the world’s most followed sports. As Shah later remarked on social media, the presence of a global titan like Messi at a flagship cricket event signals the sport’s growing ambition to engage audiences far beyond its traditional boundaries.

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Addressing the sea of blue and white jerseys at the “Kotla,” a visibly moved Messi expressed his deep gratitude for the “pure madness” and affection he experienced throughout the three-day whirlwind tour. Accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, who were also gifted customized Indian jerseys (No. 9 and No. 7, respectively), Messi promised the crowd that he would return to India someday, perhaps even to play a competitive match. However, the journey didn’t end immediately after the stadium lights dimmed; the trio took an unexpected final detour to Jamnagar, Gujarat.

At the personal invitation of Anant Ambani, they visited Vantara, the world-renowned wildlife rescue and conservation center. There, the footballing greats participated in traditional rituals, including a Maha Aarti, and engaged in an impromptu “football session” with a rescued elephant calf named Maniklal. This blend of high-octane sporting diplomacy in Delhi and a serene, spiritual conclusion in Gujarat ensured that the GOAT 2025 Tour remained an indelible chapter in Indian sporting history, leaving fans eagerly anticipating February 2026.

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