Fans wrestle over football after Lionel Messi kicks it towards them at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium: WATCH

Messi's clip quickly triggered strong reactions online, with social media users divided over what they saw. While some found humour in the chaos, others were openly critical.

Messi fans wrestle over football in Delhi

The scramble shows several people tugging at the ball, each determined to claim it as a souvenir from the historic night

Lionel Messi wrapped up his highly anticipated GOAT India tour on Monday, with a final stop in Delhi. The Argentine legend, who lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, received a thunderous welcome as he stepped onto the field at Arun Jaitley Stadium.

He strolled around the ground, waved to cheering fans and kicked footballs into the crowd, leaving thousands soaking in the once-in-a-lifetime moment. Not long after the event, a video shot inside the stadium began circulating widely on Instagram.

Posted by Instagram user Ekam, the clip captures a tense scene in the stands, where fans are seen wrestling over a football Messi had kicked towards them. The scramble shows several people tugging at the ball, each determined to claim it as a souvenir from the historic night.

The caption on the video read, “People fighting for ball Messi kicked in Delhi stadium”.

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ekam (@ekam_chadha)

Also Read | ‘Thank you, Mumbai police’: Lionel Messi fans applaud cops at Wankhede stadium after smooth GOAT India tour event

The video quickly triggered strong reactions online, with social media users divided over what they saw. While some found humour in the chaos, others were openly critical.

One user commented, “Football se rugby khel liya cricket stadium mei.” Another wrote, “I always thought about this and it happened.”

Others compared the Delhi event to Messi’s appearance in Kolkata. “Atleast way better than what happened in Kolkata. Atleast the event didn’t get cancelled,” one person remarked.

A harsher take came from another user who said, “Indians don’t deserve such events lol. Showing this sort of behaviour to the world. Nice.”

Story continues below this ad

The viral moments didn’t end there. The Delhi leg of Messi’s tour also drew backlash over the condition of the stadium seating. Several attendees took to social media to share videos showing seats covered in dust and bird droppings, sparking widespread frustration.

Fans were particularly upset after learning that tickets for these sections cost around Rs 6,000. Many felt the poor maintenance ruined what should have been a premium experience.

The criticism grew, given Arun Jaitley Stadium’s reputation as one of India’s top sporting venues and its selection as a future host for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, as many questioned the shortcomings at a venue of such importance.