What was intended to be a seamless, celebrity-studded stop on Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour in Mumbai took an awkward turn on Sunday. Sections of the massive crowd at the Wankhede Stadium loudly booed Bollywood actors Tiger Shroff and Ajay Devgn during the on-field programme.
The Incident
The public display of displeasure unfolded as event organizers paused the main proceedings—which centered around the football superstar—to felicitate several celebrities who were in attendance.
- Tiger Shroff’s Reception: The issue began when Tiger Shroff was called to the stage, with the announcer referring to him as a “youth icon.” Immediately, loud boos and jeers rang out from parts of the stadium, clearly expressing the crowd’s impatience.
- Ajay Devgn’s Experience: The reaction was emphatically repeated moments later when veteran actor Ajay Devgn was invited for his felicitation. Spectators were audibly displeased by the continuous interruptions.
The negative response appeared to stem from the thousands of fans who had gathered specifically for Messi and felt frustrated that the spotlight kept shifting to Bollywood personalities instead of the football action and the presence of the legend.
A Day of Legendary Exchanges
Despite the awkward celebrity reception, the day saw highly celebrated moments involving the Argentine great:
| Interaction | Details | Crowd Reaction |
| Arrival & Interaction | Messi arrived in Mumbai on Sunday morning and later interacted with the crowd by throwing balls into the stands. | Enthusiastic |
| Sunil Chhetri | Messi spent time with former India football captain Sunil Chhetri on the field. | Positive |
| Devendra Fadnavis | He met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. | Standard |
| Sachin Tendulkar | Tendulkar walked to the center and presented Messi with his iconic No. 10 ODI jersey. Messi reciprocated by gifting Tendulkar a World Cup ball. | Thunderous Applause |
The exchange between Tendulkar and Messi—both global legends who famously wore the number 10 jersey—was a major highlight of the Mumbai event.
Contrasting Tour Experiences
The Mumbai event fell between two highly different experiences in the preceding tour stops:
- Kolkata (Chaos): The tour’s inaugural stop was marred by confusion and crowd unrest at Salt Lake Stadium. Fans, despite paying high fees, failed to get a proper glimpse of Messi during a short 22-minute visit due to severe mismanagement.
- Hyderabad (Smooth): The second leg in Hyderabad proceeded smoothly and positively, underlining the importance of organized planning and effective crowd control.
With Mumbai now concluded, the GOAT India tour is scheduled to wrap up in the national capital, Delhi, on Monday, December 15.