Two No. 10s, One Timeless Moment

The hallowed turf of Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium witnessed another glorious chapter in Indian sporting history on Sunday as two of the greatest-ever sportspersons — Lionel Messi and Sachin Tendulkar — shared the centre stage in a grand celebration of sport.

On the third leg of his four-city GOAT India Tour, Messi spent close to an hour at the stadium, engaging with young footballers, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri and several personalities from the entertainment world. The event also marked the launch of ‘Project Maha-Deva’, announced by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, aimed at identifying and nurturing young footballing talent across the state.

The Wankhede, famously remembered as the venue of India’s historic 2011 Cricket World Cup triumph, was packed to capacity, with chants of “Messi… Messi” echoing through the stands throughout the evening. The Argentine great, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, walked out onto the field shortly after Tendulkar arrived at around 5:45 pm.

For perhaps the first time at the iconic venue, the roar for “Messi… Messi” momentarily outshone the legendary “Sachin… Sachin” chants that have reverberated countless times at the stadium. However, decibel levels peaked once again when Tendulkar was invited to share the stage with Messi later in the evening.

Addressing the crowd, Tendulkar reflected on his deep connection with the venue.

“I have spent some incredible moments here. A number of dreams have seen the finish line on this very venue. And without your support, we would never have seen those golden moments on this ground in 2011 (cricket World Cup),” Tendulkar said.

Calling the occasion special, he added,

“And today, having all three of them here is indeed a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India. When it comes to Leo, what does one talk about him? He has achieved everything. We really admire his dedication, determination, commitment.”

Earlier, Messi enjoyed an unforgettable outing at a packed Wankhede, with fans creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Barcelona’s Camp Nou. Chants of “Barca… Barca” and “Suarez… Suarez” rang out repeatedly as the Argentine trio took in the electrifying reception.

Messi interacted with former India captain Sunil Chhetri, presenting him with an Argentina jersey — a gesture he also extended to Chief Minister Fadnavis — and met players from the Mitra Stars and India Stars, who featured in an exhibition match. Chhetri, who retired recently after scoring 94 international goals for India, was also cheered enthusiastically with chants of “Chhetri… Chhetri” during the evening.

As part of the programme, CM Fadnavis formally welcomed Messi, Suárez and De Paul with bouquets and presented Messi with a memento, while reiterating the state’s commitment to grassroots football development through Project Maha-Deva.

The most awaited moment of the evening arrived when Tendulkar and Messi finally met at centre stage. Roughly half an hour after Messi had walked onto the field, the Master Blaster joined him, creating a crossover moment that will be remembered for generations.

Tendulkar presented Messi with his iconic No. 10 India ODI jersey, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd, as the presenter highlighted the shared jersey number that symbolises the greatness of both icons. Messi, in turn, gifted Tendulkar a FIFA World Cup ball, ensuring the Indian legend did not go empty-handed.

The two greats exchanged smiles and shared a brief conversation, with Messi’s translator assisting during the interaction.

Asked to say a few words about Messi, Tendulkar expressed pride on behalf of the nation.

“The way you have received all three greats of the game has truly been remarkable. When it comes to Leo, if I have to speak about his game, it wouldn’t be the right platform, and you know what do people talk about him? He’s achieved everything,” he said.

He further added,

“We really admire his dedication, determination, commitment and above all, he’s loved so much because of his humility, the person that he is, and on behalf of Mumbaikars and Indians, I’d like to wish him and his family the very best of health and happiness.”

Messi, 38, who won the FIFA World Cup in 2022, had landed in Mumbai earlier on Sunday morning. Prior to the Tendulkar interaction, the event began with Messi throwing balls into the crowd and spending time with Sunil Chhetri, much to the delight of fans.

The Mumbai event followed Messi’s earlier visits to Kolkata and Hyderabad, with the GOAT India Tour set to conclude in Delhi on Monday, December 15.

Also Read: What Happened on Messi’s Kolkata Day: Overcrowding, VIP Blockade and Fan Anger Explained