Zayn Malik paid an emotional tribute to One Direction during his performance in Mexico, nearly breaking down while singing Night Changes on the 10th anniversary of his departure.

Zayn Malik paid an emotional tribute to One Direction during his performance in Mexico

Zayn Malik “almost cried” as he paid tribute to One Direction 10 years after quitting. The 32-year-old singer was performing in Mexico on his Stairway to the Sky tour and opened the show last night with a rendition of One Direction’s hit ‘Night Changes’. After the performance – which has been shared on social media – Zayn said: “It’s the first time I sang that song in 10 years. Thank you, that was f****** amazing. I almost cried at one point. This is insane.”

The performance fell on the 10th anniversary of the day Zayn quit One Direction after five years in the group alongside Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan and the late Liam Payne.

In a Facebook statement on March 25, 2015, the Pillow Talk hitmaker wrote: “My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. “I’d like to apologise to the fans if I’ve let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart.

Zayn Malik paid an emotional tribute to One Direction during his performance in Mexico (Image: WWD via Getty Images)

“I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight.”

He reunited with bandmates Harry, Niall and Louis at Liam’s funeral late last year.

After his friend’s death aged 31 in October, he paid tribute to Liam in an emotional statement

He wrote on Instagram: “Liam, I have found myself talking out loud to you, hoping you can hear me, I can’t help but think selfishly that there was so many more conversations for us to have in our lives.

“I never got to thank you for supporting me through some of the most difficult times in my life.

The star nearly breaking down while singing Night Changes on the 10th anniversary of his departure(Image: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Zay)

“When I was missing home as a 17 year old kid you would always be there with a positive outlook and reassuring smile and let me know you were my friend and that I was loved.

“Even though you were younger than me you were always more sensible than me, you were headstrong, opinionated and gave no f*** about telling people when they were wrong.

Zayn made a heartfelt tribute to his former bandmate Liam Payne(Image: Getty Images for ABA)

“Even though we butted heads because of this a few times, I always secretly respected you for it.” Zayn described Liam as “the most qualified” musically in One Direction, and insisted he “knew nothing in comparison”.

He added: “I was a novice child with no experience and you were already a professional. I was always happy to know, no matter what happened on stage we could always rely on you to know which way to steer the ship next.”

Just last month, Zayn dropped a massive hint at a potential One Direction reunion(Image: Getty Images)

Just last month, Zayn dropped a massive hint at a potential One Direction reunion. Zayn took to Instagram to share a voice note sampling a new rendition of One Direction hit That’s What Make’s You Beautiful. Uncaptioned, the simple recording added fuel to the already-sparked rumours of the beloved band reuniting.

The recording sharing Zayn’s emotional version of the 2011 global song elated his 53.8 million fans who have been speculating the remaining four members reuniting after Payne’s death. Swarming to social media, one fan wrote that “the bare thought of Zayn randomly singing 1D songs makes my heart swell;” a fan account of Malik adding: “I NEEDED THIS TODAY, thank you for blessing my ears”. Many have guessed that this must be a hint towards the band coming back together in in 2025 – something that has been supposedly in the works for years.