Lionel Messi is still on tour. This Sunday, at the third stop of the GOAT Tour of India, he was in Bombay to fill yet another stadium and continue to collect ovations. The passage along its slopes had added value Rodrigo DePaul And Luis Suarezbecause it involved a crossover with two local legends: the former football player Sunil Chhetri and the “God of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkarwho showed him his own statue erected at Wankhede Stadium, a temple of sport that represents the Asian giant’s greatest passion.
After the hectic first 24 hours he spent on Saturday, Messi was much more rested and relaxed, and away from the overflow and unrest that was going on in Kolkata, Messi also had time for fun: He was encouraged to take a penalty and invented a “game” with De Paul and Suárez to try to throw balls into the smallest and highest boxes on the field. The first to do so was the Uruguayan, but the world champion from Rosario, displaying his competitive genes, immediately asked for a ball and made it.
The tour of the pitch, where two pitches were set up to watch matches between local stars, brightening the wait for Messi’s disembarkation, was also included some “crazy” girls and boys who have fulfilled an incomparable dream. It was seen there more active to De Paulwho encouraged the little footballers as if it were a real warm-up at Inter Miami, with whom they became MLS champions for the first time in their history a week ago. Even, “Motorcito” threw a whistle at one of the boys who was celebrating with Suárez and Messi.
This is my favorite activity ❤️ pic.twitter.com/sIgg1lQLIr
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) December 14, 2025
Among the cheers there was a special mention for “Visca Barca”. In fact, among the most jerseys of the Argentine national team, in second place were the jerseys of the culé team. To a lesser extent, jerseys from PSG and Inter Miami, the other two clubs Messi played for in his professional career, were also visible in the stands.
The call “free kick” could also be heard in several passages. Of course, the fans weren’t happy with him scoring that penalty, but they also wanted a free kick from Messi. But that didn’t happen.
The visit to Bombay, the penultimate stop of the GOAT Tour, which ends this Monday in the capital, also had a more formal part. New Delhi. Apparently there was a political side to it as the Chief Minister of the Maharashtra region, Devendra Fadnavisinvited Messi to press a button that breathed life into the ambitious state sports initiative “Mahadeva Project”. It aims to identify, nurture and train young football talent – under 13 years of age – in Maharashtra, with a long-term vision of strengthening India’s presence on the global football stage. The chosen ones were those who were in the “Locos” together with the “Pulga”, De Paul and Suárez.
Today Project Mahadeva starts with Lionel Messi!#LionelMessi #MessiInMaharashtra #MessiIndiaTour pic.twitter.com/5gnGeGLgAO
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 14, 2025
One of the moments of greatest applause at the Wankhede Stadium, built in 1974-75 and a temple to cricket, the most popular sport in India. This is where the Asian giant established itself World champion Achieved in 2011 for the second time in its history (previously it was achieved in 1983). And the figure of this team was Sachin Tendulkarwho appeared on stage to do one Crossing GOATs with Messi.
The 38-year-old from Rosario greeted him and even exchanged a few words through a translator with the Indian cricket legend, who gave him his own T-shirt from the sport’s national team. The special feature? Tendulkar also used number 10. La Pulga returned the favor with a “Trionda” ball that will be used at the next World Cup. What they both have in common is that they hold countless records in their respective sports.
MESSI & TENDULKAR 🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/bF8lcCTojS
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) December 14, 2025
Messi’s presence in Bombay lasted an hourthe most extensive of the three he has had so far. And there was another meeting with an Indian sports legend, this time from the same sport. Was Sunil Chhetriwhich revealed that he did not want to meet Messi in Calcutta, presumably because he did not agree with the state allocating funds to a private event of this nature rather than to other priorities.
أسطورة ميسي & سونيل 🇮🇳🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/HViOpvWe37
— Messi World (@M10GOAT) December 14, 2025
The former footballer, top scorer in the history of the Indian national team with 95 goals in 157 games and fourth in the world behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi himself and Ali Daehi at national level, had two contacts with La Pulga and in the second he accepted the Argentina jersey that the Rosario had given him.
At the end there was also a photo with Bollywood stars like Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff, who were also included in the Mahadeva project. As the fallout from the Calcutta scandal continues, Messi, De Paul and Suárez prepare for their final stop: New Delhi.
About The Author
