NEW DELHI, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Colourful confetti showered down on Lionel Messi as he ended his whirlwind four-city tour of India with a cameo at New Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, where a near-capacity crowd shouted themselves hoarse during his half-hour appearance.

The world's most populous nation had temporarily put aside its cricket obsession and slipped into a 'Messi-mania' since the Argentine eight-times Ballon d'Or winner arrived late on Friday with thousands of fans waiting outside the airport in Kolkata.