The Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai saw Sachin Tendulkar and Lionel Messi share the same stage.
Hailed as the legends of the cricket and football teams, Tendulkar and Messi are associated with the iconic No.10 jersey in their respective sport.
The entire crowd at the stadium erupted in celebration, chanting the names of Sachin and Messi.
Exchange of Iconic Jerseys Between Sachin and Messi
During the event, Sachin Tendulkar presented Lionel Messi with his precious No.10 jersey of the Indian cricket team.
Notably, this was the same jersey number the Master Blaster donned during India’s triumphant World Cup 2011 campaign under MS Dhoni’s captaincy, and the victory was celebrated at the Wankhede Stadium.
While gifting the jersey to the FIFA World Cup-winning captain, Sachin pointed towards the highly famed number written above the text “Gracias, Leo.”
In a similar move, Messi presented the signed football jersey that he wore during Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022.
Messi’s Arrival at the Wankhede Stadium
Moments after Sachin Tendulkar entered the Wankhede Stadium, Lionel Messi arrived at the venue alongside his teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, at 05.45 pm IST.
Surprisingly, the chants of Messi by the enthusiastic crowds soared to a peak level than the usual ‘Sachin’ chants at the cricketer’s homeground in Mumbai.
Messi’s GOAT India tour reached its third city, where he spent almost an hour at Wankhede. As this was his third leg out of the four-city tour in the nation, the 38-year-old’s interaction with cricket star Tendulkar, along with young and legendary talented football players like Sunil Chhetri, was the main highlight of the event.
‘He Achieved Everything’: Sachin About Lionel Messi
Sachin Tendulkar was delighted with the massive crowd’s response to watching three big football superstars on a single frame. He spoke about his cricketing experiences at Wankhede and recalled the 2011 World Cup-winning moment at this venue:
“Definitely! There are some wonderful moments here. As Mumbai has always been a City of Dreams and the dreams were seen reaching the finishing line at this venue.
It was purely your support, and without it, we wouldn’t have been part of those golden moments in 2011, like winning the World Cup here.
The presence of three of them (referring to Messi, Paul, and Suarez) makes it a valuable moment for Mumbai as well as India.
Speaking about Leo, do you think this could be the right platform to speak? What could anyone speak about his achievements? He has achieved everything in his career, and we truly acknowledge his perseverance and commitment towards the sport.
He is admired for his humble attitude and his individual character. We wish his family good health on behalf of all of us present here. Thanks for your presence, and we hope the Indian football transcends to greater heights,” Tendulkar said.
Wankhede’s Special Moments from the Event
The event started by playing a set of popular English and Bollywood songs at the Wankhede Stadium, followed by the cultural performances of the students.
Subsequently, a friendly football match was organized between Mitra Stars and Indian Stars that featured some renowned actors like Jim Sarbh and Tiger Shroff alongside the Indian football players Bala Dev and Nikhil Poojari. The Mitra Stars included India’s iconic football players, namely Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, and Sunil Chhetri.
Soon after the completion of the friendly football match, the players of both the Mitra Stars and Indian Stars assembled to see Messi. Also, Chhetri experienced the most memorable moment in Indian football history, having interacted with Messi, and they both hugged each other.
The young girls spent some time on the field playing football with Messi and his teammates from a local grassroots program called Project Mahadeva. From the girls’ point of view, it was a great moment as they passed the ball to the world’s iconic footballer. Each kick got louder and louder as Messi and his teammates kicked the football into the crowd.
While Chhetri was honored with a signed football jersey from an Argentine footballer, Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis honored Messi and his teammates with a specialized accolade.
To inspire the young football players at the state level, the Maharashtra CM unveiled Project Mahadeva during Messi’s presence. However, Tiger Shroff joined the event, which marked the rare occasion of a football legend meeting a Bollywood star.
Also Read: Can Foreign-Born Winger Ryan Williams Solve Indian Football’s Woes?
Final Verdict
It was a sensational moment of two sporting legends who came together in a packed Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.Especially, the No.10 connection between the two iconic stars sharing a common jersey number and gifting their World Cup jerseys was indeed the highlight of the event.
Lionel Messi has already travelled across three different cities in India as a part of his GOAT India tour— Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. His final session concluded in Delhi on December 15, 2025 (Monday).
After a stressful start to the tour in Kolkata, Messi had a smoother experience in Hyderabad and Mumbai, while Delhi police were set on high alert ahead of the Argentine footballer’s arrival.
