New Delhi: What was meant to be a grand celebration of football legend Lionel Messi turned tense at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, as sections of the crowd loudly booed Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff during the event on Sunday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also faced jeers from the stands.
The incident took place during Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025, with Mumbai being the third stop after Kolkata and Hyderabad earlier in the weekend. Fans had packed the stadium to catch a glimpse of the Argentine superstar, but the mood shifted during the felicitation ceremony.
As Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff walked onto the pitch to be honored, loud boos rang out from parts of the crowd. Many spectators appeared impatient and uninterested in celebrity appearances, clearly wanting the focus to remain on Messi.
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Tiger Shroff was introduced as a “youth icon” and “India’s youngest action star,” representing the Maharashtra government’s Project Mahadeva, an initiative aimed at nurturing young football talent across the state. Ajay Devgn was praised for his discipline and his association with football through his film Maidaan, which tells the story of legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim.
Despite the introductions, both actors were met with continued booing as they entered the field.
The crowd reaction did not stop there. When Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed the audience, sections of the stadium again erupted in jeers. The atmosphere briefly changed when he invoked “Ganpati Bappa,” prompting chants of “Morya” that momentarily drowned out the boos.
Throughout the awkward moments, Messi remained calm and composed. He smiled, greeted those on stage, and stood quietly as the crowd voiced its displeasure.
The mood at the stadium finally lifted when cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar met Messi for a special interaction. The two legends exchanged gifts, with Tendulkar presenting a Team India jersey and Messi gifting a football. This moment received loud cheers and applause from the crowd.
The celebrations also included a patriotic touch as Messi held the Indian flag. His Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul carried the national flags of Uruguay and Argentina.
Messi, along with Suárez and De Paul, is set to continue the GOAT India Tour in Delhi on Monday.