Football first in Mumbai, as Messi fever hit high in Wankhede

A star-studded night where football and its icon were celebrated.

The ‘Messi Mania’ in India went up a couple of notches on day two of the GOAT India Tour 2025 as football finally took centrestage at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

The GOAT India Tour 2025 was advertised as a celebration of football and a treat for its fans to witness the footballing trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul. While advertisements usually have hidden caveats, the Mumbai leg celebrated the nation’s footballing icons, unlike day one.

The GOAT Tour reaches its footballing peak

G.O.A.T-ed moment of the night in #Mumbai ! 🐐🇮🇳🇦🇷Lionel #Messi presents a signed jersey to Sunil Chhetri! A crossover like no other! ⚽️🔥🔥Courtesy: DD Sports#GOATTourIndia pic.twitter.com/6JxZBJZ4y2

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) December 14, 2025

No city organises high-profile events like Mumbai, and smooth functioning during day two of the GOAT India Tour was a live demonstration. However, the eye-catching fact was that football and its Indian counterparts were given their due on a special night.

Sunday set the stage for a never-before-anticipated interaction between Sunil Chhetri and Lionel Messi. While both players play at different levels domestically, the warmth and mutual respect between the two legends drew the loudest cheers on the night. The moment was immortalised when Messi gave an Argentine jersey to Chhetri, creating an instant iconic moment for Indian football and legions of fans at the Wankhede Stadium.

While the event was built on the fanaticism and adoration for the Argentine wizard, it also recognised the sporting greatness of cricketing icon and fellow GOAT Sachin Tendulkar. The legends also shared a special moment on the field as the iconic Indian No.10 shared the national cricket team jersey while Messi shared the Argentina national team jersey in a show of mutual respect and admiration.

While the Kolkata and Hyderabad events felt like a promotional or VIP only event, the Mumbai leg was a celebration of sports in general and the domestic and international icons.

ALSO READ: Lionel Messi GOAT India Tour Delhi Itinerary & full schedule

An event for the fans

Long before Messi stepped onto the Wankhede turf, the mood around the iconic cricket venue reflected something different. Blue-and-white Argentina jerseys mixed with Indian national team colors, and chants for Messi echoed through the concourses more commonly associated with cricketing heroes.

Mumbai, a city accustomed to hosting global sporting spectacles, embraced football with rare unanimity. Organizers framed the evening not as an exhibition or promotional stop, but as a celebration of the game’s past, present and future in India. That intent resonated as fans packed the stands to witness a lineup featuring Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul — players whose careers have shaped a generation of football followers.

Messi, Suarez and De Paul take the stage

Messi’s arrival predictably commanded the loudest reaction, with fans rising in unison as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was introduced. Yet the evening was carefully structured to avoid centering solely on one man. Suarez, Messi’s club teammate and a legend in his own right, received an equally warm reception, while De Paul’s presence highlighted Argentina’s broader footballing identity beyond its most famous name.

Rather than a competitive match, the Mumbai program leaned into interaction and symbolism, a format synonymous with the tour. Short skill demonstrations, light training drills and fan-facing moments replaced intensity, allowing the focus to remain on connection rather than competition.

For many in attendance, the opportunity to see Messi in person at Wankhede — a venue steeped in Indian sporting history — carried emotional weight. For Indian footballers present on the field, it was a rare moment of shared space with players whose careers have defined modern football.

Moving swiftly past controversy

The Mumbai leg also served as a reset for the tour after a contentious opening day. Events in Kolkata and Hyderabad were overshadowed by political messaging and debate, drawing criticism from fans who expected football to be the primary focus.

In Mumbai, organizers appeared determined to course-correct. Political figures were notably briefly in the spotlight towards the end, while their aides, and families were kept at an arm’s length. Speeches were kept minimal and there were no staged reunions to be seen with people who had no business with football.

The emphasis remained on players, fans and the sport itself, a decision widely welcomed by attendees. Messi was no longer being yanked, paused, turned and pulled in different directions, but being consulted and presented with what he wanted to do throughout the night.

Allowing football to speak, but not its true promoters

We are proud to announce that Mrs. Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation, has formalized a powerful agreement with CM Devendra Fadnavis and the Government of Maharashtra to launch Project MahaDeva.This groundbreaking initiative is reaching into all 36 districts of… pic.twitter.com/YKvpJLH48w

— JSW Foundation (@JSWFoundation) December 15, 2025

By stripping away external narratives, the Wankhede event allowed football to speak for itself. That clarity of purpose distinguished day two from what preceded it and set a more optimistic tone heading into the tour’s final stop.

While the organisers in Mumbai gathered some Bollywood star power for the night through actors Tiger Shroff and Ajay Devgan, profound supporters of the sport in the country, like John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor, were missing from the event.

Two stars who support and have real stakes within Indian Super League clubs, NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC, respectively, were a missed opportunity from the promoters.

While Shroff and Devgan were promoting a newer initiative through Project Mahadeva during the event, legacy supporters would have given the ISL much-needed credibility at a time when it’s been dragged through the mud.

Final stop was at the nation’s capital

Fans will hope the capital builds on Mumbai’s football-first approach rather than revisiting earlier controversies.

For now, Mumbai stands as the tour’s defining chapter. At Wankhede, football came first, icons shared the stage, and Indian players were celebrated alongside the game’s global elite, a combination that left a lasting impression on a city and perhaps a roadmap for how the sport can grow in the country.

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