Messi in India jersey: Football icon stuns fans ahead of IND vs NZ T20 Final

Ahmedabad: In a move that has sent shockwaves across the global sporting community, football legend Lionel Messi was featured in an official promotional campaign by Adidas India, appearing in the Indian national cricket team’s "Blue" jersey just before the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand.

The image, shared on the official Adidas India Instagram handle under the title "BEHIND THE ELEVEN," shows the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner donning the three-striped kit. The post was captioned, "The three stripes look good on world champions. Let’s go team India," quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of likes and igniting massive search volume for the upcoming final.

The timing of the high-profile crossover coincides with the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where India is set to face New Zealand today, March 8. 

For India, the stakes could not be higher. The team enters the final with a 67.9% win probability as they seek their third T20 World Cup title. The matchup serves as a significant psychological hurdle, following India's victory over the Kiwis in the 2025 Champions Trophy final, a win that ended a decade-long ICC trophy drought for the "Men in Blue".

India and New Zealand secured their places in the 2026 T20 World Cup final after commanding performances in their respective knockout matches. India entered the championship game after defeating South Africa in a high-stakes semifinal, maintaining their dominant form throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, New Zealand booked their ticket to Ahmedabad by overcoming England in a clinical semifinal display, setting the stage for another historic clash between the two rivals.