
Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 reached Mumbai amid enormous fanfare, with thousands packing the Wankhede Stadium to witness the global football icon in person. The third stop of Messi’s India visit, after Kolkata and Hyderabad, was designed as a celebration of sport, legacy, and cultural crossover. However, the evening took an unexpected turn when Bollywood actors Tiger Shroff and Ajay Devgn were met with boos from sections of the crowd during the on-stage felicitation ceremony.
Unexpected Reaction During Felicitation
As part of the formal proceedings, Tiger Shroff was invited on stage and introduced as a youth icon associated with Project Mahadeva, a football development initiative focused on identifying and training young talent across Maharashtra. As he was being felicitated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, audible boos echoed across parts of the stadium, momentarily disrupting the programme.
The atmosphere remained tense when Ajay Devgn was called next. He was acknowledged for his portrayal of Indian football history through his film Maidaan, which highlighted the contribution of legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Despite the football-centric context of the tribute, the crowd response showed little change, with continued booing heard during his presence on stage.
Clips from the moment quickly spread across social media platforms, showing both actors maintaining composure despite the reaction. Messi, who briefly greeted the actors, was seen standing patiently on the sidelines as organisers moved ahead with the event.
Announcer – Please welcome youth icon Tiger Shroff
Crowd – BOOOOOOOO!!!
Surprisingly, even Ajay Devgn was booed
The crowd had purely come to see Messi and Indian legends like Tendulkar and Chhetri pic.twitter.com/ApsbqSWfY2— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) December 14, 2025
Crowd Warms Up for Sporting Icons
While the felicitation segment drew mixed responses, the evening was far from subdued. Several moments earlier and later in the programme were met with overwhelming enthusiasm from the packed stands.
Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, accompanied by her sons Taimur and Jehangir, attended a meet-and-greet session with Messi, drawing warm applause and camera flashes as the family posed with the football legend.
Famous Bollywood Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan meet Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul. ❤️🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/UFGsyEIgmt— Messi Media (@LeoMessiMedia) December 14, 2025
The loudest cheer of the night, however, arrived during Messi’s interaction with Sachin Tendulkar. The Indian cricket icon presented Messi with a Team India jersey, a gesture that resonated deeply with fans. Messi responded by gifting Tendulkar a football, symbolising mutual respect between two of sport’s most celebrated figures.
After watching the events in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.
It was clear that while Messi met many celebrities, he seemed to ignore most of them. but when he met Sachin Tendulkar, the respect was unmistakable.
A true GOAT recognizing another GOAT 🐐pic.twitter.com/QVJVstLkFQ— GillTheWill (@GillTheWill77) December 14, 2025
Messi Heads to Delhi Next
Following the Mumbai leg, Messi is scheduled to travel to New Delhi, accompanied by Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, for the final phase of his India tour. A meeting with national leaders and additional public engagements are expected as the tour concludes.
Despite the brief controversy, Messi’s presence continued to command attention, reinforcing the immense pull the football icon holds among Indian fans across sporting and cultural boundaries.
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