New Delhi, Dec 12 (NationPress) The city is engulfed in a passionate football craze as Lionel Messi – 'La Pulga' – the small wizard with an enormous impact is set to arrive in the national capital on December 15. What started as mere chatter has surged into palpable excitement, with fans eagerly anticipating the moment when the Argentine icon steps onto the field at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. One thing is clear: Delhi is not just greeting a superstar; it’s preparing to be completely 'Messi-merised'.

Football has taken over the streets of the city. Argentina jerseys are a common sight in markets, graffiti artists are paying homage to Messi on walls, and children in neighborhoods are trying to emulate La Pulga’s signature moves.

“This is more significant than any festival for us,” expressed a fan from Karol Bagh who has been amassing Messi posters since childhood. “The thought of Messi coming to Delhi is surreal. I haven't had a good night's sleep in a week.”

Fan clubs are gearing up, forming early-morning lines, leading drum chants, and preparing to unveil massive tifos as soon as Messi steps onto the pitch. A college student from South Campus captured the sentiment perfectly: “I have watched Messi my entire life on television. Seeing him in person is a childhood dream coming to fruition.”

Inside the stadium, the preparations reflect the excitement. Security personnel and volunteers are readying themselves for a significant influx, with seats expected to fill long before the event kicks off.

This enthusiasm extends beyond one visit. Messi’s upcoming arrival highlights the rapid growth of football's popularity in India. In a country traditionally dominated by cricket, the magnitude of Messi's appeal is a testament to how deeply the beautiful game has embedded itself in the aspirations of young athletes.

“Messi is the reason I picked up a football,” shared a 14-year-old fan practicing outside his school in Dwarka. “Just getting to see him, even from a distance, will inspire me for the next decade.”

On December 15, as Messi steps forward and the crowd erupts, Delhi will not only witness a global sports figure; it will observe an entire city lose itself, joyfully and completely, in the grip of La Pulga fever.

Considered one of the greatest footballers to ever grace the game, Messi is embarking on a three-day, four-city tour of India from December 13 to 15.

This tour will take him to Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and finally New Delhi, where he is also expected to have a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.