Lionel Messi GOAT Tour of India Highlights: Lionel Messi receives Sachin Tendulkar's India jersey, gives Sunil Chhetri Argentina one in Mumbai

Lionel Messi’s hour-long appearance at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium during his GOAT India Tour 2025 proved to be a grand success, leaving fans and dignitaries thrilled. The highlight of the evening was his warm interaction with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who presented the Argentine star with a signed jersey. The event also marked the launch of Project Maha-deva, an initiative aimed at nurturing and supporting young footballing talent.

“I have spent some incredible moments here. As we call it, Mumbai is a city of dreams. And a number of dreams have seen the finish line here on this very venue. And without your support, we would never have seen those golden moments on this ground in 2011,” Tendulkar said referring to India’s ODI World Cup triumph in which he played a major role.

“And today, having all three of them here is indeed a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India. The way you have received all three greats of the game has truly been remarkable.” Talking about Messi, he said, “When it comes to Leo, if I have to speak about his game, it wouldn’t be the right platform. And you know, what does one talk about him? He has achieved everything. We really admire his dedication, determination, commitment.

“And above all, his humility, the person that he is. And on behalf of Mumbaikars and Indians, I would like to wish him and his family the very best of health and happiness to all of you. Thank you once again for being here and encouraging youngsters.” Tendulkar also hoped that “India also reaches the height that we all aspire to (in football).”

It was a wrap from Mumbai as the curtains came down on a high-profile and eventful leg of the tour, marked by massive crowds, star appearances, and mixed reactions from fans. From packed venues and celebrity sightings to moments of chaos and crowd drama, the city witnessed a spectacle that kept emotions running high, before the tour moved on to its next destination, New Delhi.

As Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the crowd, his speech was once again met with loud boos from sections of the audience. However, the mood briefly shifted when the CM invoked “Ganpati Bappa”, prompting the crowd to respond with “Morya,” effectively drowning out the jeers and leading to an interesting scene at the venue.

According to a report from news agency PTI, Argentine football icon Lionel Messi is set to meet the Chief Justice of India and the Army Chief at the residence of a Member of Parliament during the Delhi leg of his India tour on Monday, following a visit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence. The final day of the GOAT India Tour will also feature Messi exchanging greetings with two Indian cricketers at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Kalyan Chaubey said the event had drifted far from its sporting purpose. “Yesterday, the event we saw, it became West Bengal Sports Minister's personal event. People have seen on the television or other medium more of the West Bengal Sports Minister than Messi. It was of personal canvassing, election canvassing, and using an international player for a completely vested interest. And I think this will cost Bengal in the future,” he said.

Chaubey stressed that strict adherence to protocol was non-negotiable while hosting international stars.

“Law will take its own course. Bengal need to take lessons very seriously. All the protocols need to be implemented strictly whenever we host an international event and an international star. Had these protocols been followed, then this problem wouldn’t have happened,” he added.

Following the chaos at football star Lionel Messi’s event and subsequent vandalism by angry fans at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata yesterday, CV Ananda Bose visited the stadium along with West Bengal Chief Secretary Dr Manoj Pant on Sunday.

Speaking on Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of India, former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta said, "That translates into people getting motivated, not just a selfie, the biggest thing about greats like him, once in a lifetime players like him is that they encourage people and I hope that's the effect that happens in India. I hope it has a deeper meaning than just supervision."

Commenting on the chaos at football star Lionel Messi’s event at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata yesterday, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey said, "West Bengal Ministers were more in frame than Messi yesterday. It was of personal canvassing, election canvassing, and using an international player for a completely vested interest."

Argentine footballer Lionel Messi leaves hotel, reaches Brabourne Stadium ahead of scheduled GOAT tour.

Argentine football icon Lionel Messi arrived in the city on Sunday afternoon, marking the third stop of his much-anticipated GOAT Tour. During his visit, he is set to attend the Padel GOAT Cup event at the Cricket Club of India’s Brabourne Stadium before heading to the Wankhede Stadium later in the evening.

Messi had earlier visited Kolkata and Hyderabad on Saturday. Following his Mumbai engagements, he will travel to New Delhi to wrap up both the tour and his India visit.

On Sunday evening, Messi is scheduled to appear alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar at an event hosted by the Cricket Club of India, with star players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also expected to be present. He will then proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for a Bollywood celebrity exhibition match, slated for around 5:00 PM.

The promoter and organiser of football star Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, Satadru Dutta, was produced before the Bidhannagar Court on Sunday, a day after he was arrested over the chaotic incident at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
He has been sent to 14 days of police custody.

Messi's Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour descended into chaos on Saturday as fans who paid high ticket prices at Salt Lake Stadium's event began throwing bottles and attempting to break the gates between the stands after the Argentine legend left early. Angry fans resorted to vandalism at the Kolkata stadium, alleging poor event management and criticising VIPs and politicians for hogging the football icon's attention and time to the extent that fans did not even get a glimpse of Messi.

The situation escalated when angry fans attempted to enter the ground to vandalise the tent and the goal post. To control the situation, police personnel used mild force to disperse the angry crowd from the ground.

After a disappointing turn of events in Kolkata and a highly successful reception in Hyderabad, the Argentine legend is now set to be welcomed by his passionate fan base in Mumbai. The World Cup winner has reached the Taj Mahal Hotel.

Fans have begun thronging the Cricket Club of India (CCI) at Brabourne Stadium as excitement builds over the arrival of Argentine football icon Lionel Messi in Mumbai.

Supporters gathered early, hoping to catch a glimpse of the World Cup winner as he prepares for the next leg of the G.O.A.T India Tour.

The buzz around the venue reflects Messi’s immense popularity and the anticipation surrounding his scheduled appearances in the city.

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi arrived at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai on Saturday as part of his G.O.A.T. Tour India 2025.

The World Cup winner reached the city amid tight security and growing excitement among fans.

Messi’s Mumbai visit marks a key stop on his India tour, with several high-profile events and appearances lined up across the city.

Virat Kohli, who had been in London following India’s ODI series against South Africa, returned to Mumbai on Saturday with his wife, Anushka Sharma.

The timing has fueled speculation that the star cricketer may be in the city to catch a glimpse of Lionel Messi, who is set to visit Wankhede Stadium during the Mumbai leg of his India tour.

Argentina football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in Mumbai, marking the third venue of his GOAT India Tour and continuing his high-profile visit to the country. After a disappointing turn of events in Kolkata and a highly successful reception in Hyderabad, the World Cup winner is now set to be greeted by his passionate Mumbai fan base, reaching the Taj Mahal Hotel ahead of Sunday’s events.

Fans in Hyderabad enjoyed a memorable evening at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, witnessing Messi in action during the second stop of the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’. Unlike the chaos that erupted at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, where fans were reportedly frustrated by VIPs and politicians monopolising Messi’s time, the Hyderabad leg was smooth and enjoyable.

Messi participated in a 7-on-7 exhibition football match that included Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and soaked in the enthusiastic support of the crowd. He also met Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, presenting him with his iconic number 10 Argentina jersey. Messi’s Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, were also part of the meet-and-greet.

The superstar was felicitated with a memento by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and, as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, gave young children present at the venue a moment to remember, kicking the ball around with them for a short while.

As part of his Mumbai visit, under-14 footballers from across Maharashtra, selected by the state sports department, will have the unique opportunity to practise with Messi on Sunday.

Delhi will serve as the final stop of Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025, concluding the countrywide celebrations on Monday.

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday thanked football legend Lionel Messi and his teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, for the GOAT India tour event in Hyderabad.

"I wholeheartedly thank G.O.A.T Lionel Messi football greats Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, for accepting our invitation and gracing our city of Hyderabad and enthralling all our sports lovers especially youth," Chief Minister poster on 'X'.

CM Revanth Reddy, who played the friendly match against Messi's team at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, also thanked the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, for attending the event.

"We are deeply grateful to our leader Rahul Gandhi ji for joining us and making the evening a memory of a lifetime," he said.

"I thank and congratulate all officers, security personnel, organisers and staff on duty across the city for ensuring we were able to showcase to the world that means sports, Telangana means excellence, and Telangana means hospitality," the Chief Minister said.

"On behalf of my entire government, I thank all sports lovers and fans for their best conduct and disciplined manner in which we played hosts to our guests," he added.

The celebrations included a vibrant musical concert and an elaborate laser show, featuring performances by Rahul Sipligunj and Mangli.

Before the friendly match, a 'Meet & Greet' programme was organised in honour of Lionel Messi at Falaknuma Palace.

CM Revanth Reddy, along with Rahul Gandhi, attended the event, where several distinguished personalities had the opportunity to interact with the football legend.

Messi was in Hyderabad on Saturday, where he appeared in many photo-ops, was seen kicking a ball with kids and interacting with officials. The visit came soon after the chaos witnessed at his first stop in Kolkata. A huge controversy erupted after his blink-and-miss performance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, for which fans had forked out huge amounts for tickets.

The Mumbai Police are preparing for massive crowds as Lionel Messi makes two appearances in the city on Sunday, expecting around 33,000 spectators at Wankhede Stadium and about 4,000 at the Cricket Club of India (CCI). Authorities also estimate that nearly 30,000 people could gather in and around the venues just to catch a glimpse of the football superstar.

Ahead of the event, organisers met with Mumbai Police to finalise security arrangements. An official told PTI, "During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly. After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out."

Tour organiser Satadru Dutta had told news agency PTI earlier this week that the event will feature celebrity models, top cricketers, Bollywood stars, millionaires, and founders, including Tiger Shroff, Jackie Shroff, John Abraham, and others

In the aftermath of the events in Kolkata, Mumbai Police have put in place elaborate, World Cup-style security measures for Lionel Messi’s visit on Sunday.

Over 2,000 police personnel have been stationed in and around the Brabourne Stadium (CCI) and the Wankhede Stadium.

Additional arrangements include watchtowers, extensive barricading and public announcement systems to ensure strict crowd regulation and real-time monitoring.

After the chaos at Yuva Bharati Krirangan, popularly known as Salt Lake Stadium, during Lionel Messi’s event in Kolkata, the city’s image has taken a significant hit on the international stage, with the vandalism making headlines in leading newspapers and media outlets across the world.

From the US-based The New York Times to the UK’s The Guardian and BBC, the incident found wide mention. The chaos at the venue was also reported extensively by Spanish and French media.

The New York Times carried the headline, "Lionel Messi's India tour organiser 'detained', says police after 'deeply disturbing chaos'." At the time the report was published, the organiser of Messi’s GOAT India Tour, Satadru Dutta, had only been detained by the police and not formally arrested. He was taken into custody later.

In a detailed report, The New York Times described the scenes at Yuva Bharati, noting that Messi was barely visible during the event. Although he was scheduled to remain at the venue for more than an hour, security personnel quickly escorted him off the field.

The report also quoted West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and included details from Governor C.V. Ananda Bose’s press conference. It mentioned Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s apology over the incident and the formation of an inquiry committee. The newspaper further noted Sports Minister Arup Biswas’s remark, "I will not say anything."

The American daily also made a reference to cricket, stating that while Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, has a large football-following population, cricket remains India’s most popular sport.

The BBC headlined the incident as "Angry fans throw chair and bottles at Messi event in Kolkata." Its report said officials and politicians surrounded Messi so closely that he appeared annoyed within a short time. After spending just 22 minutes on the field, he was escorted away for security reasons, triggering unrest among the crowd, who began throwing chairs and bottles.

The BBC added that Messi’s India visit was marred by chaos in Kolkata, with some fans having paid up to Rs 12,000 for tickets only to catch a fleeting glimpse of the football icon. It also cited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s apology, noting that she was "deeply saddened and shocked" by the incident.

The Yuva Bharati episode also featured prominently in Spanish and French media. Spanish sports daily Marca ran the headline "Absolute Chaos," reporting that the Inter Miami star entered the field but left after just 22 minutes, despite fans spending thousands of rupees to see him.

French daily L’Equipe described the incident as "Disturbing," writing that Messi was on a promotional tour and that the overwhelming crowd around him led to extreme frustration among spectators, making the experience traumatic for fans at the stadium.

Many believe that West Bengal, and Kolkata in particular, has returned to international attention after a long time — but for all the wrong reasons.

Lionel Messi’s programme in Hyderabad on Saturday offered a clear contrast to the disorder seen earlier in Kolkata, as the second leg of the GOAT India Tour passed without disruption and ended on a smooth note.

After a troubled start in the City of Joy, Hyderabad offered a setting where the event was allowed to breathe. The structure held, the crowd stayed in place, and the programme ran as intended, drawing a clear line between what had gone wrong earlier in the day and what was put right later.



Messi arrived in Hyderabad at around 5.40 pm, following a difficult opening leg of his three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour 2025. Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy received him at the Taj Falaknuma Palace before the Argentine headed to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

The stands were close to full when Messi walked out, dressed simply in a green crew-neck T-shirt, black trousers and sports shoes. This time, there was no rush, no scramble. He stayed for about an hour, at ease, moving through the programme without the strain that had cut short his time in Kolkata.

"Maath theke beriye jaan, aapnara please maath theke beriye jaan (leave the field. Everyone, please leave the field now)," begged Satadru Dutta as loudly as he could over the microphone.


Dutta, the key man behind bringing Lionel Messi to India and Kolkata on Day 1 of the football legend’s ongoing "GOAT Tour," desperately tried to regain control at the Salt Lake Stadium.

But as his requests fell on deaf ears and people, understandably uninvited on the field, kept piling on in an attempt not just to see the 38-year-old up close, but also to click photos with him and even touch him, Messi's entourage decided to take matters into their own hands, bringing a premature end to the ill-organised proceedings. They left the stadium, which had turned into a circus by then, much earlier than originally planned.


If we check the clock, Messi’s stay at the Salt Lake Stadium, also known as the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), lasted less than 25 minutes.

What happened after that is all over the internet. Mentioning it again won’t pacify broken hearts; it may well aggravate them.

Before Messi arrived at VYBK, though, it was a pleasant, sunny Saturday morning in Kolkata, a perfect time when every Bengali heart demands an outing. And if a glimpse of what many consider the greatest footballer of all time is on offer, who dares to say no?

Salt Lake Stadium thus saw an outpouring of people. It all began smoothly with singing and dancing performances, followed by an exhibition match between Mohun Bagan Messi All Stars and Diamond Harbour Messi All Stars, with all players wearing Messi’s name and No. 10 on their backs.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Argentine footballer Lionel Messi in Hyderabad on Saturday during the second leg of the GOAT India Tour of Argentininan football greay.

Messi presented a signed jersey to the Congress MP, and the two spoke briefly at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium.



Addressing fans in Hyderabad, Messi said, "for the love I've received today and always".

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy was also present at the venue and, before Gandhi arrived, spent some time with Messi on the ground, where they were seen casually kicking a football.

Messi reached Hyderabad on Saturday evening, a few hours after disorder marked the opening leg of his India tour in Kolkata.

Around 50,000 spectators at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, many of whom paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 — and in some cases up to Rs 20,000 in the black market — were left upset as politicians, VVIPs, security personnel and others surrounded Messi, leaving fans unable to get a clear view.

The situation escalated when angry spectators threw bottles, which are banned inside sports venues. Questions were raised over how such items, including food packets, were allowed into the stadium. Chairs were later pulled out and thrown.

Fibreglass seats were found damaged across the field and the synthetic track.

Lionel Messi Mumbai Event: Key Itinerary

First-half competition: 15 minutes

Halftime: 10-minute musical tribute to Lionel Messi

After a whirlwind opening across Kolkata and Hyderabad, the Lionel Messi G.O.A.T. Tour now heads to Mumbai, with the financial capital set to roll out the red carpet for the Argentine icon at a glittering event on Sunday, December 14.

Messi is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on the morning of December 14 following his Hyderabad engagements. The day’s programme includes his participation in the Padel GOAT Cup at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), before the focus shifts to the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where the main celebrations will unfold.

The evening event at Wankhede is expected to begin around 5 pm, with gates opening approximately three hours earlier. The programme will culminate in a charity fashion show accompanied by live Spanish music performances, promising a blend of sport, culture and entertainment.

Messi will be joined throughout the tour, including the Mumbai leg, by his close teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. The guest list is expected to feature several prominent names, including Bollywood stars John Abraham, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Jackie Shroff, along with leading figures from cricket and other local celebrities.

A strong emphasis has been placed on charity during the Mumbai stop. Highlights include an auction of memorabilia from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph and youth coaching initiatives such as Project Mahadeva, which will involve 60 young players.

Among the high-profile attendees, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar is expected to take part in a Padel match alongside Messi. Former India football captain Sunil Chhetri is also likely to be present, while John Abraham, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Jackie Shroff are among the Bollywood personalities tipped to attend.

Messi is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai on the morning of December 14 following his Hyderabad engagements.

The day’s programme includes his participation in the Padel GOAT Cup at the Cricket Club of India (CCI), before the focus shifts to the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where the main celebrations will unfold.

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of Lionel Messi GOAT Tour of India

After a whirlwind opening across Kolkata and Hyderabad, the Lionel Messi G.O.A.T.

Tour now heads to Mumbai, with the financial capital set to roll out the red carpet for the Argentine icon at a glittering event on Sunday, December 14.

Lionel Messi handed over an Argentina jersey as a memento to the organisers, while Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez were presented with mementos in return.

Following this, the trio left the field and returned to the stadium area, bringing the programme to an end for the day.

Messi will travel to Mumbai on Sunday for events at the CCI and Wankhede Stadium, before heading to Delhi on December 15.