Lionel Messi Takes Center Stage at Wankhede: A Historic Evening for Indian Sports
Global icon meets cricket legend Tendulkar at Wankhede today
The excitement in Mumbai is palpable as the "GOAT India Tour 2025" arrives at the iconic Wankhede Stadium this Sunday. After turbulent scenes in Kolkata and a warm reception in Hyderabad, the spotlight now turns to the financial capital, where Lionel Messi in Mumbai promises to be a spectacle bridging the worlds of football, cricket, and Bollywood.
A Clash of Titans
While the Wankhede is traditionally the temple of Indian cricket, today it transformed into a football haven. The evening’s headline featured a historic exchange between three legends. Messi shared the stage with India’s own football captain, Sunil Chhetri, and the "God of Cricket," Sachin Tendulkar. This unique crossover involved a symbolic exchange of a football and a cricket bat, marking a rare union of India’s sporting royalty with the Argentine superstar.
The Schedule and Star Power
Fans have been queuing since early afternoon, with gates opening around 1:15 PM to accommodate the full house. To keep the energy high, organizers have arranged musical performances, including sets by DJ Chetas, leading up to the main event.
An "All Stars" 7v7 football match warmed up the crowd from 5:00 PM. Following this, the World Cup winner made his grand entrance at 5:37 PM. The glamour quotient was high, with Bollywood stars like Kareena Kapoor Khan—attending with her sons Taimur and Jehangir - John Abraham, and Jackie Shroff expected to be in the stands.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Beyond the glitz, the tour has a serious developmental focus. A core part of Messi's itinerary involves the "GOAT Football Clinic." Under the Maharashtra government’s "Project Mahadeva," 60 young talents (30 boys and 30 girls) have been selected for a life-changing interaction with their idol.
Between 5:56 PM and 6:26 PM, Messi conducted training sessions with these children, who are part of a comprehensive five-year scholarship program designed to nurture grassroots talent. He presented scholarship certificates to a select group of young athletes.
The Final Leg
According to Niranjan Hiranandani, a co-sponsor of the event, Messi’s presence is seen as a vital catalyst for Indian football, potentially inspiring the country to dream of World Cup glory in the future. Following the conclusion of the Mumbai festivities around 7:00 PM, the football wizard will head to New Delhi on Monday for the final leg of his Indian journey, where a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the agenda.
Image Source: Sportstar, The Hindu
