SRINAGAR: Argentine football legend Lionel Messi arrived in the national capital on Monday for the final leg of his G.O.A.T India Tour after his chartered flight from Mumbai was delayed for several hours due to adverse weather conditions.
Messi, who was on the second day of his three-day visit to India, was originally scheduled to land in Delhi around 10:45 am. However, dense fog delayed his departure, and he eventually arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport at about 2:30 pm. He proceeded directly to the Leela Palace Hotel, where he is scheduled to attend a closed-door meet-and-greet with a select group of guests.
His engagements in Delhi include a ticketed appearance at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, followed by a photo-shoot at Purana Qila, after which he is expected to depart for Miami, where he is currently based.
The World Cup-winning footballer drew huge crowds during his Mumbai visit on Sunday evening, where he posed for photographs with cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, along with several Bollywood personalities and political figures. Prior to Mumbai, Messi made appearances in Hyderabad and Kolkata as part of the tour.
The Kolkata leg witnessed chaotic scenes after disappointed fans breached security at Salt Lake Stadium, damaging seats and entering the pitch after being unable to get close to the football star, who was surrounded by officials and political leaders.
