Lionel Messi India visit highlights: Tendulkar gifts Messi Indian jersey

Satadru Dutta, the promoter of the event, earlier told PTI that apart from Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul will also participate in the fashion show. During the event, one of Lionel Messi's World Cup 2022 memorabilia items will be auctioned for a philanthropic cause.

Well, that's a wrap here as Messi, Suarez and de Paul make their way off the ground. A fine showing here by Mumbai and some fine names to add to the festivities.

There is an auction as well that is lined up later in the evening where some prizes memorabillia will go under the hammer for charity. 

An interesting turn of events as the Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis, started addressing Mumbai, only to end up being booed by the fans at the Wankhede Stadium. But then he quickly flipped the script by chanting Ganpati Bappa Morya to get the crowd back on his side. 

Here's a quick transcript of what Sachin has said while addressing Messi at the Wankhede Stadium.

I have spent some incredible moments here. As we call it Mumbai is a city of dreams, several dreams have seen the finish line at this very venue. Without your support, we would never have seen those golden moments at this ground in 2011. And today, having all three of them here is a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India. The way all three were received was remarkable. If I have to speak about his game, it is not the right platform. But what does one talk about him, he has achieved everything. We admire his dedication, determination, commitment and above all, he is loved so much for his humility and the person he is. On behalf of all Mumbaikars, wishing him and his family the very best of health. To all of you, thank you once again for being here and encouraging our youngsters. I hope football also reaches the height we all aspire.    

Mumbai's very own Sachin Tendulkar now steps up to the stage and comes to meet the legendary Lionel Messi who looks like a jersey from the 2011 ODI World Cup where India went on to win the tournament. Messi also returns the favour with a special World Cup ball. 

Lionel Messi and Devendra Fadnavis have officially inaugurated Project Mahadeva, marking a significant milestone for grassroots football in the state. The initiative is expected to give a strong boost to the future of the sport and inspire young players across Maharashtra.

An interesting turn of events unfolds as Tiger Shroff makes his way to the stage, with faint boos audible from sections of the crowd.

Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis, felicitates Messi with a bouquet. 

A moment that Sunil Chhetri and the rest of India will remember. A signed Argentina jersey by the GOAT himself.

The dignitaries make their way to the stage as well, and this will certainly be a moment to remember. 

The youngsters from Project Mahadeva are all lined up for what could be a photo session. 

The young boys are seriously putting on a good show with Messi, de Paul and Suarez having their hands on their heads.

Fans are chanting loudly, calling for a free kick from the GOAT himself, though it remains to be seen whether Messi will oblige. Meanwhile, the young boys are putting in some serious work during the rondos, showing impressive intensity and focus.

The amount of rondos being played, it feels like there is a match coming up soon. Yet here we are, as Messi and co, in a fourth round of rondo, and some of the young boys are trying to show off their skills here. 

The trio have now made their way to the MCA Pavilion, where the love from Mumbai continues to pour in. More footballs are shot into the stands, sending fans into a frenzy. Several youngsters in the crowd manage to get their hands on the ball, capping off a truly memorable day for fans across the city.

The players are seen enjoying a rondo session, with Rodrigo de Paul having plenty of fun in the middle. At one point, he even almost tackles one of the adults, drawing laughs all around. It is a joyful moment for the youngsters and one they are sure to remember for a long time.

Argentina midfielder Rodrigo de Paul added to the buzz at the venue by sending a few balls into the stands, much to the delight of the crowd.

He then shared a light kickabout with youngsters from Project Mahadeva, Maharashtra’s grassroots football programme, creating a special moment for the participants and underlining the focus on inspiring the next generation during the visit.

Looks like Messi has been given a few footballs, which he will shoot into the stands. Fans can be seen clashing to get the ball here. Messi makes his way around the ground as well.

We have a penalty shoot-out coming up, and Sunil Chhetri goes for the penalty, and he misses, unfortunately.

Leo also has a go from the spot and, as expected, he finds the back of the net. 

The crowd began cheering away, yelling," Visca Barca". 

Fans are cheering away after the arrival of the legendary footballing stars. Messi and co are waving at the crowds as the Mumbai crowds go wild. 

The moment has finally happened. Lionel Messi and Sunil Chhetri finally come face-to-face and share a customary handshake.

The celebrities are making their way to the ground now. Bollywood star Tiger Shroff is followed by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as well.

The Indian women's team captain, Mala Devi has a shot at goal and that ricochets over with another player having a shot to get the goal and level the scoreline. 

Indian Stars 1 - 1 - Mitra Stars

The sun is coming down on the Wankhede and the Indian Stars are having a long spell of posession, but they are just unable find the back of the net.

There is a bit of possession here from the Indian Stars. They are passing all the way through but are unable to find the back of the net. Some of the dignitaries can also be seen in the visuals as well. 

Indian Stars 0 - 1 - Mitra Stars

Sunil Chhetri gets the opening goal of the game here and it seems like he might have pulled his hamstring as a result. There wwas a longball pinged to the wings where Chhetri was clinical as ever and headed the ball into the net. 

Indian Stars 0 - 1 - Mitra Stars

The crowd at Wankhede give us a countdown and Sunil Chhetri kicks off the friendly match here. 

The friendly game is about to get underway, and some big-name celebrities are making their way onto the ground. But the big news is that Sunil Chhetri is in the building. Wearing a kit with Messi on the back. What a moment here for the fans as two international footballing icons come under the same roof.

The friendly will be between Indian Stars vs Mitra Stars.

Cheers all around as Messi attends the padel event.

 Warm-ups are going on at the Wankhede Stadium.

This might make for a very cool event.

Lionel Messi is attending a padel event at the CCI at the moment.

In case you did not know, both Messi and Suarez are very passionate about padel as a sport.

In fact, Messi co-owns a padel team with his former teammate and close friend Sergio Aguero.

Their team is called Kru Padel by Taktika.

Here is a video of Lionel Messi playing padel.

FC Barcelona fans have gathered to get a glimpse at perhaps the greatest player that the club has every seen.

Look at how many people have turned up!

The Bollywood tunes are done. It is time for some proper football songs.

Nostalgia hits as the DJ plays Waving Flag by K'naan.

We have some music to kick things off at Mumbai with a DJ going at it with some of the popular Bollywood tunes. 

The fans are all set at the Brabourne Stadium here as we are getting ready for the GOAT's arrival in the stadium.

Mumbai is vibing with 'Messi, Messi' chants. Mumbai Police get a special chant from fans for their efforts to maintain security and order. 

This is lovely to watch. Fans of the sport and fans of the great coming together. 

Lionel Messi’s India visit had a light-hearted twist when a fan turned up with a giant poster showing the Argentine superstar with his very own “Aadhaar card”. The playful visual quickly grabbed attention, adding to the buzz around Messi’s presence and underlining how fully the World Cup winner has been embraced by Indian fans, one creative idea at a time.

• 5:50 PM IST – Match kick-off
• 6:05 PM – Entry of the Hon’ble Chief Minister onto the pitch
• 6:07 PM – Lionel Messi enters the pitch
• 6:08 PM – Entry of Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez
• 6:11 PM – Messi and the Hon’ble Chief Minister dribble the ball
• 6:12 PM – Penalty shootout (three shots per team) to decide the GOAT Cup
• 6:15 PM – Group photo with both teams
• 6:30 PM – Special penalty shootout featuring Messi (organiser as goalkeeper)
• 6:32 PM - Messi meet with Sunil Chhetri &Sachin Tendulkar 
• 6:38 PM – Parade walk around the stadium, with Messi waving to fans
• 6:48 PM – Guests introduced on stage
• 6:51 PM – Messi greets organisers and team owners; photo session
• 6:53 PM – GOAT Cup presentation by Lionel Messi
• 6:54 PM – Felicitation of Lionel Messi by the Hon’ble Chief Minister
• 6:55 PM – Felicitation of Luis Suárez
• 6:56 PM – Felicitation of Rodrigo De Paul
• 6:57 PM – Event sign-off
• 6:58 PM – Final remarks by the Hon’ble Chief Minister
• 7:00 PM – Exit of all dignitaries from the stadium
• 7:05 PM – Dispersal announcements
• 7:10 PM – Final closure of the event.

Reacting to the chaos at football star Lionel Messi’s event at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey criticised the manner in which the programme was conducted, alleging political grandstanding.

“West Bengal ministers were more in frame than Messi yesterday. It was personal canvassing, election canvassing, and using an international player for completely vested interests,” Chaubey said, expressing disappointment over the focus shifting away from the football icon.

Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi arrived at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium amid tight security arrangements, with heavy police deployment in and around the venue.

So, right about 30 minutes back, Lionel Messi had left his hotel in Mumbai and had headed to the Brabourne Stadium ahead of the scheduled G.O.A.T tour. As per the schedule, he could be in line to meet Sachin Tendulkar. 

Once again, food is being sold at exorbitant prices at sports events in the country. After 'France Fry' was sold for Rs 200 in Kolkata, two samosas are being sold for Rs 200 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where Messi will be present later in the day. Fans have already come in huge numbers. The main event at the iconic stadium is set to get underway from 5 pm IST. 

Here's another crazy Messi fan story, this time in Mumbai. 

"We’ve been following Messi for a long time now. My wife is 9 months pregnant and almost giving birth and she sent me to meet Messi and make sure I get an autograph," a fan said. 

Messi fans are slowly making their way to the Cricket Club of India. A padel match, involving Sachin Tendulkar, will be hosted by the iconic venue. Messi will play a part in it. 

Project Mahadeva, Maharashtra’s ambitious grassroots football initiative, is being officially launched at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in the presence of Lionel Messi. The programme, backed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aims to identify and nurture young football talent across the state through structured training, scholarships and long-term development pathways. A statewide talent hunt was conducted through district, regional and state-level trials, ensuring that even remote areas were reached, with trained scouts deployed across Maharashtra to discover hidden prospects.

Under the initiative, 60 under-13 players — 30 boys and 30 girls — have been selected for a five-year integrated scholarship programme that includes advanced coaching, fitness training, nutrition support and competitive exposure. These young talents will receive special mentorship and world-class training opportunities as part of Messi’s visit, participating in a GOAT Football Clinic during the event in Mumbai.

The five-year programme reflects Maharashtra’s attempt to overhaul youth football development, offering a long-term pathway for elite players rather than ad-hoc support, and sending a message about the state’s commitment to build a strong future for Indian football rather than relying solely on sporadic campaigns.

Here's a sight to behold. A Mumbai local has been taken over by Messi fans. Football enthusiasts, from across the city, are heading towards the Cricket Club of India and Wankhede Stadium for the mega events planned later in the day. 

Here are the latest visuals. Lionel Messi has arrived in Mumbai, and since it's a Sunday, it has not taken him long to reach the Taj Hotel. The icon will soon check into an iconic hotel. 

Video Courtesy: ANI. 

Telengana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy recalls his experience of sharing the stage with Lionel Messi during the Hyderabad leg on Saturday. 

Lionel Messi is on his way to Mumbai. Here, you can see a convoy escorting him to Hyderabad airport. 

The star footballer is set to reach Mumbai post noon. 

Bandra-Worli sea link was illuminated with the image of Football star Lionel Messi on Saturday evening. 

From the outset, the event drifted away from its core purpose. Rather than placing fans at the centre, the evening unfolded as a tightly controlled appearance shaped by access and optics. Messi, the reason tens of thousands filled the Salt Lake Stadium, was briefly presented, closely surrounded and quickly ushered away.

What unfolded in Kolkata did not remain a local issue for long. Within hours, videos of the chaos spread across social media and international news platforms. The visuals were stark: angry fans, damaged seating, pitch invasions and security personnel struggling to maintain control.

For a country keen to present itself as a capable host of major sporting events, the optics were damaging. Headlines focused on mismanagement and supporter anger after fans paid heavily for a fleeting glimpse of their idol. Messi’s appearance lasted barely 20 minutes, but the fallout will last far longer.

This was not a case of minor delays or teething issues. It was a clear breakdown in planning and execution. When even the presence of the world’s most recognisable footballer could not impose order, it exposed how fragile the organisation really was.

Former India midfielder Lalkamal Bhowmick, who featured in the exhibition match between Mohun Bagan Messi XI and Diamond Harbour Messi XI, has shared a first-hand account of the chaos that unfolded during Lionel Messi’s appearance in Kolkata. Speaking to Sports Now, Bhowmick said the atmosphere was calm initially, with Messi entering the stadium in a relaxed mood — smiling, shaking hands with players and willingly signing autographs.

However, the situation soon took a turn when a large number of people rushed onto the field to click pictures. Bhowmick revealed that Messi became visibly uncomfortable as the crowd swelled rapidly around him.

"It got overcrowded very quickly, and we could see his reaction change as everyone around him started clicking pictures. He began showing signs of irritation, lost his cool, and everything went out of control," Bhowmick said.

What was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime moment for fans who paid Rs 5,000 and more to watch Lionel Messi in Kolkata descended into chaos at the Vivekananda Yuvabharati Salt Lake Stadium. Supporters who had waited for months to see their football idol were left frustrated when the Argentine icon’s appearance on the field was cut drastically short, with the situation spiralling amid overcrowding and confusion.

According to eyewitnesses, Messi’s planned lap of the stadium never properly materialised. As he stepped onto the field, he was immediately surrounded by politicians, officials, celebrities and their family members, along with an overwhelming paparazzi presence. The congestion around Messi became so intense that his security team was forced to abandon the lap altogether, significantly limiting his interaction with the wider crowd. As word spread that the superstar would not stay long, unrest began to build in the stands.

Tensions peaked once Messi left the field in under 10 minutes, triggering anger among sections of the crowd. Fans, many of whom had arrived at the stadium early in the morning, questioned the planning and access arrangements, especially after paying premium prices in anticipation of a memorable experience. Bottles were thrown, hoardings were damaged and security personnel had to intervene as protests broke out inside the venue.

Soon after, dramatic visuals from inside the stadium flooded social media, showing agitated fans, damaged signage and objects being hurled. The scenes stood in sharp contrast to the festive build-up that had surrounded Messi’s arrival in Kolkata earlier in the day. (More on Messy start to Messi's India trip) 

Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.

"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.

Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.

The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.

In view of Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi’s visit to Mumbai on Sunday, city police have put in place stringent security arrangements. Officials said items such as water bottles, metal objects and coins will not be allowed inside the stadiums, while watchtowers are being installed to closely monitor crowd movement.

Police authorities added that special precautions are being taken to prevent any stampede-like situation and to avoid a repeat of the chaos witnessed in Kolkata on Saturday. Thousands of fans there had protested inside the Salt Lake Stadium after being unable to get a clear view of Messi despite paying high ticket prices.

Messi is expected to land in Mumbai on Sunday morning.

• 3:30 PM: A Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India, featuring Sachin Tendulkar. 
• 4:00 PM: Celebrity football match – 7 vs 7. Sunil Chhetri is expected to meet Messi in the evening and it remains to be seen if he will be involved in this football match. 
• 5:00 PM: Main event at Wankhede Stadium, followed by a charity fashion show
• Lionel Messi will also conduct a coaching clinic for 60 children. 
• Later in the day, Lionel Messi's memorabilia from Argentina's FIFA World Cup 2022 win will be auctioned.
• A musical event, featuring Luis Suarez, will also be held in Mumbai.

Lionel Messi will land in one of India's most cricket-loving cities, Mumbai, today. He is expected to land there shortly. The football great is set for another busy day after having covered two cities -- Kolkata and Hyderabad -- yesterday.

Follow our live blog for all the latest updates and photos. 

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