Argentina's national team star Lionel Messi, the Qatar 2022 World Cup champion, concluded his quick tour in India on Monday with an honorary lap in New Delhi, amid crowds of thousands of fans, thanking them for "all the love and support."

The 38-year-old Argentine star greeted those who welcomed him with cheers at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, which is usually dedicated to cricket, where fans wore Argentina shirts, waved flags, and chanted his name.

Addressing the crowd in Spanish, Messi said, "It was beautiful to receive all this love and support. I knew it existed, but to experience it first-hand was amazing," confirming that he "will definitely return."
Wearing a pink shirt and black pants, Messi delighted the audience by shooting balls into the stands and taking selfies with the thrilled fans.

Messi, along with some teammates from his club Inter Miami, which recently won the MLS Cup for the first time in its history, played football with children before receiving a ticket for the T20 World Cup and a shirt from the Indian national team presented by Jay Shah, the chairman of the International Cricket Council.

India, home to 1.4 billion people, is a major cricket powerhouse, but it struggles in football, ranking 142nd in the FIFA standings.

Former India national football team captain Bhaichung Bhutia joined Messi on stage, where Messi signed Argentina shirts for the Indian star and his family.

His final stop in India went smoothly after a chaotic opening day on Saturday, when fans damaged a stadium in Kolkata disappointed by his brief visit.

Thousands of fans wearing Messi shirts gathered at the "Salt Lake Stadium" in Kolkata, but were frustrated by tight security measures that made it nearly impossible to see the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star up close.

According to local media, the 2022 World Cup champion made a quick lap around the stadium field greeting the audience, then left immediately, even though he was scheduled to play for a few minutes.
The fans' frustration boiled over, with many paying more than $100, equivalent to a "month's salary" for some, throwing broken seats onto the field alongside water bottles, before storming the pitch.
In New Delhi on Monday, thousands of excited fans braved the choking air pollution to see their star, including 29-year-old Sumesh Raina, who said, "I am extremely excited to see Messi, I have followed him since my childhood."

Messi, visiting India as part of his tour named "The Greatest Tour" alongside his teammates Uruguayan Luis Suarez and fellow Argentine Rodrigo De Paul, appeared unfazed by the polluted air.
Last week, the player won the Best Player award in the MLS for the second consecutive time after leading Inter Miami to the title and topping the scoring list.

The 38-year-old will participate in the World Cup next summer, where Argentina will defend its title in the finals scheduled in North America.