International

Another glorious chapter was added to Wankhede due to the jugalbandi of Lionel Messi and Sachin Tendulkar.

By Samira Vishwas

Mumbai14 December. Another glorious chapter was added to the history of Indian sports as Argentine footballer Lionel Messi and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar shared the stage together at a grand event held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday evening.

Messi spent an hour at the Wankhede on the third stop of his four-city GOAT India Tour. Apart from young footballers, he also interacted with little genius Tendulkar, Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri and personalities from the entertainment world.

Fadnavis also announced ‘Project Mahadeva’ on this occasion.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced ‘Project Mahadeva’ on the occasion, which aims to identify and develop young football players across the state. During the entire program, the crowd of spectators present in the stadium kept chanting ‘Messi…Messi’. This stadium was also witness to India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup victory.

Shortly after Tendulkar arrived at 5.45 pm, Messi took to the field with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. Perhaps this happened for the first time, when the slogans of ‘Messi…Messi’ were louder at Wankhede instead of ‘Sachin…Sachin’. Slogans of ‘Sachin… Sachin’ have echoed at Wankhede on countless occasions and even at times when the cricket icon was not even present at the stadium.

Sachin said – a golden moment for Mumbaikars and India

But in the evening, when the great batsman was called to share the stage with Messi, the slogans of ‘Sachin… Sachin’ became louder again. Addressing the crowd, Tendulkar said, ‘I have spent some incredible moments here. Many dreams have been fulfilled at this place. And without your support we would never have seen those golden moments on this ground in 2011 (Cricket World Cup). And today, having all three of them here is indeed a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India.

Before the two superstars of their respective sports shared the stage, Messi had a memorable time at the packed Wankhede. For a few moments, the trio might have asked themselves whether they were in Mumbai or Barcelona’s Camp Nou, where Messi spent many trophy-laden seasons. The crowd of fans was also repeatedly chanting ‘Barca… Barca’ and ‘Suarez… Suarez’.

Lionel presented jersey to Sunil Chhetri and CM Fadnavis.

Messi interacted with former India football captain Chhetri and also presented him his Argentina jersey. He also gave this jersey to Fadnavis. Messi interacted with members of the two teams Mitra Stars and India Stars who played an exhibition match. The audience also raised slogans ‘Chhetri…Chhetri’ for Chhetri, who scored 94 goals for India.

CM Fadnavis gave a memorable gift to Messi

‘Talent Hunt’ program was started on Sunday evening itself to find young football players of Maharashtra. Chief Minister Fadnavis also welcomed the three guests with bouquets and gave a memorable gift to Messi.

Messi was in Kolkata and Hyderabad on Saturday, will be in Delhi on Monday

It is not often that a football icon like Messi travels to India and attends public events. Though his four-city tour didn’t get off to a good start in Kolkata on Saturday morning, a smooth ride in Hyderabad would certainly have eased some jitters. The one-hour program concluded smoothly at Wankhede. On Monday, the fourth and final day of the tour, Messi will be in the national capital Delhi, where he is also scheduled to meet PM Modi.

Messi arrived on the ‘red carpet’ dressed in casuals of a white T-shirt and black track pants and continued to boo his name from the audience, who had taken their seats two hours before his arrival. Tendulkar, Fadnavis, former All India Football Federation president Praful Patel, Bollywood stars like Ajay Devgan, Tiger Shroff and others sat right in front of the sight-screen at the Garware Pavilion. Then Messi, Suarez and De Paul entered the field.

Messi first interacted with the members of the team playing the exhibition match. Then proceeded to the stands, which are named after Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Vijay Merchant, to enthrall the crowd present in the stands and pavilion.

The ‘Seven vs Seven’ exhibition match featured members of the current Indian football team, including Rahul Bheke, Konsham Chinglensana, Indian women’s football star Bala Devi and Chhetri. Like Hyderabad, Messi, Suarez and De Paul kicked into the football stands and took a round of the field. He also spent some time with the young football players of ‘Project Mahadeva’ on both sides of the Center Square.

When Sachin gifted number 10 jersey to Messi, Messi gave him a football as a gift.

Tendulkar then presented his autographed number 10 India limited overs jersey to Messi. Messi also wears the same jersey number. The Argentine player gifted a football to Tendulkar. Both of them also talked to each other during the program.

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