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It was Messi mania in Mumbai as the Argentine football legend graced the iconic Wankhede Stadium in the city on the third leg of his ongoing GOAT tour of India. Lionel Messi received a rousing reception from a packed Wankhede crowd as he arrived on the pitch alongside his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrygo de Paul.
Messi stepped onto the field amid fireworks as he acknowledged the love and adulation from the fans, who kept shouting his name at the top of their voice. Regarded as one of the best footballers of all time, Messi gave a bunch of kids a lifetime of memories by playing football with them at the Wankhede.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner played several rounds of rondo with young kids, alongside Suarez and De Paul. The trio also shook hands with each one of them, while encouraging them as part of the football clinic that was organised for the talented kids, who were scouted from every corner of Maharashtra.
Messi also caught up with several Bollywood celebrities and Indian footballers, including the legendary Sunil Chhetri, who were part of an exhibition game at the Wankhede before his arrival. Chhetri played in the exhibition match alongside Indian football stars Bala Devi, Rahul Bheke, Jayesh Rane, Chinglensana Singh and Nikhil Poojary.
Messi was seen sharing a warm embrace with the former India captain as he met Chhetri at the Wankhede Stadium. The Argentine superstar later presented the Indian legend with a special signed jersey. Earlier, Chhetri also scored in the exhibition game for his team with a sublime header.
Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, Suarez and De Paul, also met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries present at the event. The trio also caught up with Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan, who graced the event at the Wankhede Stadium.
Messi launched Maharashtra’s football grassroots program ‘Project Mahadeva’ during the event in Mumbai in the presence of Fadnavis and others. The Argentine icon also met business tycoon and Delhi Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal, alongwith his mother Sangita Jindal, who is the head of the the Chairperson of the JSW Foundation.
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis later felicitated all three of Messi, Suarez, and De Paul and also presented a special momento to the legendary footballer. Messi gifted a signed jersey to the Maharashtra Chief Minister in return.
It was quite a sight at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as the GOAT of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar, met the GOAT of football, Lionel Messi, during the event. While Messi is considered one of the best footballers of all time, Tendulkar is the undisputed GOAT of cricket. The stadium erupted in cheers as the two legends met on the stage.
Tendulkar gifted his iconic no.10 jersey from the 2011 ODI World Cup to Messi, while the Argentine legend reciprocated the favour by gifting the World Cup ball to the Indian cricket legend.
Messi later stood with the Indian flag as Suarez held the national flag of his country, Uruguay, and De Paul stood with the national flag of Argentina. Messi and Tendulkar posed together with the Indian flag alongside Maharashtra CM Fadnavis as the event concluded on a high note.
Messi will now head to Delhi for the final leg of his GOAT tour of India. The Argentine football legend is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national capital.
