Sachin Tendulkar calls Lionel Messi’s Mumbai visit a 'golden moment' for India

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar described Lionel Messi’s visit to Mumbai as a “golden moment” for both the city and the country, as the Argentine football superstar continued his India tour on Sunday. Tendulkar drew a parallel between Messi’s presence at the venue and India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup triumph, a historic moment that unfolded at the same ground.

Addressing the gathering, Tendulkar recalled the memories associated with Mumbai, calling it a city where countless dreams have reached their destination. He referenced India’s ODI World Cup victory in 2011 and acknowledged the role of fans in making those moments possible. Tendulkar said the arrival of Messi, along with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, added another special chapter to the venue’s history and praised the warm reception given to the footballers by the city.



Speaking about Messi, Tendulkar said there was little left to say about a player who has achieved everything the sport can offer. He highlighted Messi’s dedication, determination and commitment, while also stressing the humility he brings as a person. Tendulkar extended his best wishes to Messi and his family on behalf of Indians and thanked him for inspiring young athletes. He also expressed hope that Indian football would one day reach the heights it aspires to.

During the interaction, Tendulkar presented Messi with a No.10 jersey signed by him, while the World Cup-winning Argentine captain returned the gesture by gifting a football.

Messi arrived in Mumbai around noon amid World Cup-level security arrangements, marking the second day of his four-city “GOAT India Tour 2025”. He is scheduled to conclude the tour on Monday in New Delhi, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Mumbai event followed a mixed start to the tour. While the Kolkata leg on Saturday was marred by crowd management issues and security lapses, the evening programme in Hyderabad ran smoothly and ended on a positive note.


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