GOATs Unite in Mumbai: Messi, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Chhetri at Wankhede

Lionel Messi. Sachin Tendulkar. Sunil Chhetri. Mumbai could not have asked for a more iconic combination.

The three sporting legends came together at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, December 14, delivering an unforgettable evening for fans. After a lukewarm response in Kolkata a day earlier, the GOAT Tour rediscovered its spark in Hyderabad and Mumbai. Fans began filling the Wankhede hours before kickoff, and the atmosphere turned electric as Messi, Sachin and Chhetri appeared on stage at different moments during the sundowner event.

The programme featured exhibition matches, jersey exchanges and a penalty shootout—one that even saw Messi step in himself. The crowd stayed engaged from start to finish, erupting when the Argentine great finally walked onto the field.

Messi received a thunderous ovation as he entered the stadium that has twice witnessed India lift the Cricket World Cup. He soaked in the atmosphere, walked around the ground and kicked footballs into the stands, drawing loud cheers from every corner.

Chhetri Lights Up Exhibition Match

Two 7v7 pitches were set up inside the stadium for the occasion. Sunil Chhetri led a team featuring Bengaluru FC players against a celebrity side captained by actor Jim Sarbh, alongside Bala Devi, captain of the Indian women’s football team. Chhetri ignited the crowd by scoring the opening goal but was forced to limit his involvement after suffering a muscle pull early in the match, confining himself to a small area of the pitch.

Attention soon shifted as Messi arrived with his entourage, including Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez. He greeted players and interacted with participants from the exhibition match before making his way around the ground.

Waiting at the end was Chhetri. Their embrace—a meeting of the second- and fourth-highest international goalscorers in football history—proved deeply emotional, leaving many Indian football fans teary-eyed.

Sachin Gifts His 2011 World Cup Jersey to Messi

The evening reached its emotional peak when Messi met Sachin Tendulkar. The cricket legend presented Messi with his iconic India jersey from the 2011 Cricket World Cup, worn during the historic triumph at the same venue.

Addressing the crowd, Sachin reflected on his memories at Wankhede and the significance of the moment. “I have spent some incredible moments here. Mumbai is a city of dreams, and many dreams have reached their destination at this very venue,” he said, recalling India’s 2011 World Cup win.

“Having all three of them here today is a golden moment for Mumbai, for Mumbaikars, and for India. When it comes to Leo, what more can one say? He has achieved everything. We admire not just his talent, but his humility.” Sachin added that Messi’s presence could inspire young athletes across the country and expressed hope that football in India would continue to grow.

Fadnavis Booed, Recovers with Familiar Chant

The celebratory mood briefly shifted when Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took the microphone toward the end of the event to announce Project Mahadev, a grassroots football development initiative. A section of the crowd reacted with loud boos, possibly influenced by political tensions and the events of the previous day. Fadnavis quickly defused the situation by chanting “Ganapati Bappa,” prompting the crowd to respond with “Morya,” helping calm the atmosphere and allowing him to conclude his address.

Messi is scheduled to fly to New Delhi on Monday, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend another event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.