Messi lands in Delhi, ₹1-crore meet-and-greet steals spotlight

Argentina World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi arrives in New Delhi for a tightly guarded, high-profile visit featuring VIP meetings, elite sporting interactions, and exclusive corporate events.

Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi arrived in India’s national capital, New Delhi, early this morning, marking one of the most high-profile sporting visits the city has seen in recent times. Messi and the Argentine team are staying at The Leela Palace in Chanakyapuri, where an entire floor has been reserved exclusively for them.

The team has been accommodated in the hotel’s presidential suites, with room tariffs reportedly ranging between ₹3.5 lakh and ₹7 lakh per night. Strict instructions have been issued to hotel staff not to disclose any details related to Messi’s stay. The drive from the airport to the hotel takes around 30 minutes, though security arrangements in and around The Leela Palace have been significantly tightened. The area has effectively been converted into a high-security zone, with heavy police deployment.

Also Read:Egg safety alert in Karnataka: Over 150 ‘Eggoz’ samples sent for lab testing

A special “meet and greet” event has been arranged for selected corporate leaders and VIP guests. Reports indicate that some corporate participants have spent up to ₹1 crore for a chance to interact personally with Messi.

During his brief stay in Delhi, Messi is scheduled to meet the Chief Justice of India, several Members of Parliament, leading Indian sportspersons, and Olympic and Paralympic medal winners. He will also visit the residence of MP Praful Patel, where prominent dignitaries, including Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant, are expected to be present. Messi is also set to meet Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, followed by an interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Argentine captain is expected to visit the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where a football clinic has been planned along with an interaction with a select group of Indian cricketers. Later, Messi will head to Purana Qila for a special Adidas-hosted event. At the historic venue, he will meet Indian sporting champions including Rohit Sharma, Paralympic javelin gold medallist Sumit Antil, boxing world champion Nikhat Zareen, and Olympic high jump medallist Nishad Kumar.

Also Read:Bommanahalli-Roopena Agrahara name controversy puts Yellow Line in spotlight again

Messi is scheduled to leave for the airport around 6:15 pm and depart India by approximately 8:00 pm. His Delhi visit follows stops in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, after which he will return to Argentina.