Soccer icon Lionel Messi kicked balls into the group and met cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on day two of his three-day tour of India.
Messi greeted excited followers decked out in Argentina soccer jerseys at a packed Wankhede stadium in India’s monetary hub Mumbai, as supporters chanted his title.
The 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami famous person took centre stage within the presence of India’s sporting royalty together with Tendulkar and soccer star Sunil Chhetri.
Messi alongside together with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul are a part of a so-called GOAT Tour of a cricket-crazy nation.
Cricket nice Tendulkar introduced Messi together with his iconic No 10 jersey from India’s 2011 World Cup triumph on the similar venue.
“I’ve spent some unimaginable moments right here,” stated batting star Tendulkar. “Mumbai is a metropolis of desires and variety of desires have seen the end line right here on this very venue and with out your assist we may by no means have seen these golden moments in 2011.
“And at this time having all three greats of sport right here is certainly a golden second for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India.”
Though a cricket powerhouse, the nation of 1.4 billion struggles on the soccer pitch and are 142nd on the Fifa rankings.
“Thanks for being right here and inspiring children,” stated Tendulkar. “I hope soccer right here in India additionally reaches the heights that all of us aspire.”
After watching the occasions in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
It was clear that whereas Messi met many celebrities, he appeared to disregard most of them. however when he met Sachin Tendulkar, the respect was unmistakable.
A real GOAT recognizing one other GOAT 🐐pic.twitter.com/QVJVstLkFQ
— GillTheWill (@GillTheWill77) December 14, 2025
The Mumbai occasion went easily in comparison with Saturday’s within the jap metropolis of Kolkata the place heavy safety left followers struggling to catch a glimpse of Messi.
Annoyed followers, many having paid greater than $100 for tickets, broke down barricades and stormed the pitch after the famous person abruptly left the world.
Spectators additionally ripped out stadium seats and hurled water bottles onto the observe.
One individual has been arrested for the incident.
Earlier than the chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21m statue which exhibits him holding aloft the World Cup in 2022.
The footballer was in Hyderabad metropolis in a while Saturday the place he addressed the group briefly in Spanish.
Messi wraps up his India tour on Monday, with a doable assembly with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.
The footballer received his second consecutive Main League Soccer Most Helpful Participant award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and main the league in targets.
The previous Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain ahead will spearhead Argentina’s defence of the World Cup in June-July in North America.
