Mumbai | The hallowed turf of the iconic Wankhede Stadium added another glorious chapter in Indian sporting history on Sunday when two of the greatest-ever sportspersons, Lionel Messi and Sachin Tendulkar, shared the centerstage in a grand event here.
On his third stop during his four-city GOAT India tour, Messi spent exactly one hour at the Wankhede, engaging with young football players, cricket icon Tendulkar, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri as well as celebrities from the entertainment world.
Maharashtra chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced the launch of 'Project Mahadeva', which aims to identify and develop young football players across the state.
All through the programme, the packed house at the stadium kept changing “Messi… Messi”.
Mumbai | Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar on Sunday termed Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai as a golden moment for the city and the country.
Tendulkar compared the 2011 Cricket World Cup triumph at the same ground with the visit of Messi, along with his Inter Miami team-mates Luis Saurez and Rodrigo de Paul.
"I have spent some incredible moments here. As we call it, Mumbai is a city of dreams. And a number of dreams have seen the finish line here on this very venue. And without your support, we would never have seen those golden moments on this ground in 2011," Tendulkar said referring to India's ODI World Cup triumph in which he played a major role.
"And today, having all three of them here is indeed a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India. The way you have received all three greats of the game has truly been remarkable."
Talking about Messi, he said, "When it comes to Leo, if I have to speak about his game, it wouldn't be the right platform. And you know, what does one talk about him? He has achieved everything. We really admire his dedication, determination, commitment.
"And above all, his humility, the person that he is. And on behalf of Mumbaikars and Indians, I would like to wish him and his family the very best of health and happiness to all of you. Thank you once again for being here and encouraging youngsters."
Tendulkar also hoped that "India also reaches the height that we all aspire to (in football)."
Tendulkar presented a No.10 jersey signed by him to Messi. The Argentine World Cup-winning captain reciprocated with a football.
Messi arrived in Mumbai around noon under "World Cup level" security measures, marking the second day of his four-city 'GOAT India Tour 2025'.
He will wind up his visit on Monday in New Delhi where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Messi had arrived in India in the wee hours of Saturday, but the opening leg of the tour in Kolkata quickly descended into chaos later in the day due to poor crowd management and security lapses.
However, his evening programme in the Hyderabad leg stood in stark contrast to the mayhem in Kolkata, proceeding smoothly and concluding on a positive note.
Mumbai | Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the state government's football development initiative 'Project Mahadeva' aims to identify and nurture talented young players who could represent India in the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The project was formally launched at Wankhede Stadium by Fadnavis in the presence of football icon Lionel Messi, and prominent personalities, including footballers Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul..
The programme is part of Maharashtra's 'Mission Olympic 2026', which targets improved sporting performance and increased medal tally at national and international events.
Under Project Mahadeva, 60 under-13 footballers, including 30 boys and 30 girls, selected from across Maharashtra, will receive specialised training and mentoring. The selected players will get a residential scholarship for five years, along with world-class coaching, including training by foreign coaches.
"Project Mahadeva is a crucial initiative of the Maharashtra government to scout football talent at the grassroots level and develop high-quality players. We are confident that this project will produce players capable of competing at the highest global level, including the FIFA World Cup," Fadnavis said.
The initiative is being implemented jointly by the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), the Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF), Western India Football Association (WIFA), CIDCO and the state sports department.
As part of corporate support, the Jindal Group donated Rs 75 lakh to 'Project Mahadeva' through VSTF, while Mahindra & Mahindra contributed Rs 99.99 lakh, according to an official release.
This project will create a robust and sustainable football development ecosystem in Maharashtra by combining policy support, grassroots participation, professional expertise, infrastructure and administrative backing, it said.
