Mumbai, Dec 14 (NationPress) He arrived, he engaged, and he captivated -- all within just one hour. During this magical hour at the renowned Wankhede Stadium, as part of his GOAT India Tour 2025, Lionel Messi had the opportunity to interact with cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, various current and former Indian football players, film stars, and notable politicians.

By the time he departed, precisely one hour after his grand entrance at 5:30 PM, the audience was delighted, a stark contrast to his brief 20-minute appearance in Kolkata, which left many fans disgruntled and led to unrest, prompting the West Bengal government to launch a judicial inquiry.

Mumbai marked the third destination on his GOAT India Tour 2025, where Messi invested the most time with fans following a short stint at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata and a slightly extended visit at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal.

Messi engaged in conversation with Tendulkar, aided by a translator. Tendulkar gifted him a signed India jersey, proudly pointing to the No 10 on the back, a number they both share. He addressed the audience initially in Marathi before switching to English, remarking that meeting Messi would be one of the highlights of his time at the Wankhede.

In a memorable moment, the crowd chanted Messi's name alongside Tendulkar and Luis Suarez, who, along with Rodrigo, is accompanying Messi on this GOAT India Tour 2025. The fans also tried to convey a message to FC Barcelona by chanting 'Barca, Barca' in hopes of a visit to Mumbai.

On this occasion, CM Devendra Fadnavis officially inaugurated Project Maha-deva, mentored by Bollywood star Tiger Shroff. This initiative aims to provide transformative support for aspiring young football players in the state, helping them achieve their dreams. The Chief Minister shared details about the project with Messi & Co. and expressed hopes that players from this initiative would one day dominate the football world, just as the Argentine legend has.

Messi arrived at Wankhede around 5:30 PM, approximately 30 minutes behind schedule. However, he appeared more at ease and eager to connect, occasionally pointing out areas of the ground he wished to explore to security personnel and officials. He had just come from the nearby Cricket Club of India (CCI), where he participated in a Padel promotion program and reportedly played with businessman Parth Jindal of JSW Sport.

He reached the stadium amid a Celebrity Football Match featuring India XI against Mitra XI, which included Bengaluru FC players like Sunil Chettri, Rahul Bheke, Jayesh Rana, and Ashutosh Mehta, along with India women's star Bala Devi.

Messi greeted both teams and took photos with them. Following that, he made a lap around the stadium, kicking footballs into the audience as souvenirs from his visit. Suarez and Rodrigo joined him during this lap. Messi also kicked a ball with children from the Maha-deva project and interacted with them.

After reaching the makeshift stage, Messi was welcomed by CM Devendra Fadnavis and his wife, who presented him with a GOAT Tour jersey. He also took photos with Bollywood stars Tiger Shroff, Ajay Devgn, and Dino Morea.

After an extensive conversation with Tendulkar, Messi departed the stadium to attend additional events as part of his whirlwind tour of the city. He is set to attend a celebrity fashion show where he is expected to auction signed jerseys and memorabilia.

The Argentine football captain is scheduled to leave for Delhi on Monday morning.