Kuldeep Yadav Meets Lionel Messi During GOAT India Tour

A Spinner Meets a Striker

Indian cricket star Kuldeep Yadav recently had the opportunity to meet football legend Lionel Messi during the latter's visit to India as part of his 'GOAT India Tour 2025'. During this memorable encounter, Yadav received a signed jersey from Messi and, in return, presented the football icon with a cricket bat. Known for his passion for football, Kuldeep is an ardent supporter of FC Barcelona, the club where Messi made his mark before moving to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and currently, Inter Miami.

Messi's Four-City GOAT Tour

Messi's tour kicked off in Kolkata and included stops in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, starting on December 15, alongside fellow footballers Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez.

Star-studded Welcome in Delhi

In Delhi, the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah, welcomed Messi, De Paul, and Suarez by presenting them with jerseys of the Indian cricket team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. During this event, Messi met with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Rohan Jaitley, the President of the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA).

Jay Shah gifted Messi a Team India jersey with the number 10, while Suarez received number 9 and De Paul was given number 7, each personalized with their names. Shah also extended an invitation to Messi for the upcoming T20 World Cup, presenting him with a ticket, which became a highlight of the tour's final leg.

Tour Concludes in Gujarat

The tour wrapped up in Jamnagar, Gujarat, where Messi visited Vantara, a wildlife conservation and rehabilitation center established by Anant Ambani. He departed from Jamnagar on Tuesday.