Lionel Messi expressed gratitude for the “generous hospitality” he got during a fast-paced three-day visit of India, where thousands of fans flocked to see the Argentine talent in four different locations. Messi also expressed hope that football has a “bright future” in India.
Messi departed for his base in Miami on Wednesday after staying an extra day to visit the Vantara wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation center in Jamnagar, that was founded by Anant Ambani.
The 38-year-old shared a one-minute highlights video of the journey on Instagram, showcasing his encounters with Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and a number of young football players.
”What amazing visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Thank you for the warm reception, generous hospitality, and all the feelings of love with which you surrounded me throughout my tour. I hope that football has a bright future in India,” he captioned the video.
”…we carry all this love with us, and we will definitely return, hopefully one day to play a match or on another occasion, but we will definitely return to visit India,” he said after the final leg of the tour in Delhi.
Messi’s wishes coincide with the lowest point in Indian football’s history. Due to a lack of a commercial partner, the domestic season has come to an end, and the national team’s fortunes have been plummeting after a run of subpar performances.
Policy paralysis has been exacerbated by a continuing legal dispute over administrative matters.
During the trip, the superstar striker—one of the most well-known and beloved athletes in the world—did not participate in any competitive football match. During the visit, he was accompanied by Argentina teammate Rodrigo de Paul and Uruguayan star and close friend Luis Suarez.
Messi appeared in stadiums for events that required tickets in each of the four cities, beginning with Kolkata. However, things took a turn for the worst when authorities and politicians encircled him, preventing supporters who had spent thousands for a seat from seeing the legend.
This infuriated the crowd, who vandalized Salt Lake Stadium, causing Messi to be taken away earlier than scheduled.
His trips to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, however, went off without a hitch. In addition to playing briefly with young players, he delighted fans by posing for photos and showing them some of his warm-up routines.
