Indian cricketers Kuldeep Yadav and Renuka Singh Thakur recently shared the spotlight with football legend Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammate Rodrigo
De Paul during the iconic GOAT India Tour. The Indian duo featured alongside the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in a promotional shoot for a leading global sports brand, marking a crossover moment between cricket and football.
Kuldeep’s admiration for football is well known, with the left-arm spinner having often spoken about his love for the sport. Although he is a supporter of Liverpool, his favourite footballer is Manchester City and Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne. The 31-year-old was visibly delighted while meeting Messi, widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time, and was seen smiling throughout the interaction.
Adidas really said "legends" Only 🐐
— Rishabh (@iomrishabh) December 17, 2025
Kuldeep 🤝🏻 Messi pic.twitter.com/0YeMGOJH4T
On the cricketing front, Kuldeep is part of India’s squad for the ongoing five-match T20I series, in which the Men in Blue are leading 2-1 after four games. The fifth and final T20I is scheduled to be played on Friday, December 19, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Kuldeep was the standout performer in the preceding three-match ODI series, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with nine wickets at an average of 20.78 as India clinched the series 2-1. In the T20Is, he featured in one match, picking up two wickets, while he also claimed eight wickets in the two-match Test series against South Africa, which India lost 0-2.
Renuka Singh Thakur, meanwhile, has been included in India Women’s squad for the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka Women. The opening two matches will be held in Visakhapatnam on December 21 and 23, with Thiruvananthapuram set to host the final three games on December 26, 28, and 30.
Messi’s GOAT India Tour saw the Argentine superstar visit Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi. He concluded his visit with a trip to Vantara, Anant Ambani’s animal rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre located within Reliance’s Jamnagar complex. During his visit, Messi participated in traditional Hindu rituals, paid respects to deities, interacted with wildlife, and engaged with the conservation teams, bringing an eventful and memorable tour to a close.
