Anticipation is soaring as Lionel Messi is set to arrive in Delhi for the next leg of GOAT Tour, triggering a wave of excitement among football fans.
One of Messi fans described the player's huge influence, saying that "we all love him" and that the athlete's career journey, "from his beginning to Miami", is being documented in a collection of photos.
Another fan expresses his excitement that, "He's been an influence for us all throughout our lives. Whenever we feel sad or upset about anything, we go through his videos and everything, his interviews, his magical moments, and that gives us a hope, a different kind of a hope in life. And he's surreal for me. He's the best ever. And for me, he's just not a football idol. He's my idol in life."
The unexpected nature of the visit amplified the emotional reaction, with the fan expressing sheer disbelief that the star was arriving in their locality: " I think I'll have to pinch myself that Messi is coming to my city. It's one of the biggest moments of my life. I think I've waited so long for this that we were always, like, saving money to go to Spain or enter Miami to see him but then this is surreal that he's coming to our city. It feels surreal. It feels like it is not happening. Like till the time I see him, I think I will obviously believe that it is not happening."
The World Cup–winning football icon enthralled fans in Mumbai on Sunday evening, where he was seen posing with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar alongside several Bollywood celebrities and political leaders.
Prior to his Mumbai visit, Messi made similar high-profile appearances in Hyderabad and Kolkata.