Mumbai gets it right as Messi’s GOAT Tour shines at Wankhede Stadium

A section of the Wankhede Stadium hail their football GOAT Lionel Messi on Sunday evening. Pics/Ashish Raje

After a chaotic first leg of Argentine legend Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour of India on Saturday morning and a rushed Hyderabad leg in the evening, Mumbai fans approached Sunday's third leg with understandable caution. Would it be organised? Would there be chaos? Would they actually get to see Messi? By the end of the day, every doubt had dissolved thanks to a flawless, crowd-friendly event at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.

Police lined the streets right from Churchgate station to the venue, ensuring crowds remained orderly. Senior officers were even spotted patiently guiding confused fans to the correct entry gates. Street vendors selling counterfeit Argentina jerseys for Rs 200 to Rs 500 were pushed far from the venue to avoid congestion.

Messi (centre) with Luis Suarez (right) and Rodrigo De Paul during the GOAT India Tour event at Wankhede Stadium. Pic/PTI

Queues moved smoothly across all gates, with women, children, and boisterous teenagers funnelled efficiently under the supervision of private security staff. Inside the stadium, too, operations ran as seamlessly as one of Messi's passes.

Mumbai Cricket Association President Ajinkya Naik (left) welcomes Argentine legend Messi. Pic/MCA

Even the snacks were priced fairly: cold drinks at Rs 100; samosas, popcorn and momos at Rs 200; and pizza at Rs 300. The stands were packed with over 35,000 fans. By 5.45 pm, dignitaries, including Sachin Tendulkar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, had taken their seats in the VVIP enclosure. Five minutes later, Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul walked onto the pitch to a thunderous chorus of "Messi, Messi."

A fan channels pure devotion with full-volume Messi chants. Pic/Ashish Raje

The World Cup-winning striker spent an entire hour on the ground. He first visited the 7-a-side field for a celebrity match where Sunil Chhetri headed home a sharp goal to delighted cheers. Messi greeted every player, giving Chhetri a warm embrace that sent the crowd into a frenzy. Both then attempted a penalty each, Messi's trademark left foot earning instant applause.

A Mumbai rarity: Crowds at Marine Drive turn their backs to the sea for a glimpse of Messi. Pic/Shadab Khan

The trio later played multiple rondo sessions (a regular football practice routine where players form a circle and pass the ball to each other, ensuring a couple of players positioned inside the circle do not intercept their passes) with children from the Maharashtra government's grassroots football programme, Mahadeva.

Security on high alert as cops patrol ahead of Messi's appearance. Pic/Shadab Khan

Suarez and De Paul mispassed occasionally, forcing them into the circle, but Messi remained flawless, threading left-footed passes to the kids with effortless precision. He then launched about a dozen footballs into the stands, waving throughout his slow walkaround as fans erupted.

Leo Messi lights up the Wankhede with a smooth touch and a smile. Pic/Ashish Raje

Messi then headed to the stage near the VVIP stand where Tendulkar felicitated him, calling him "an achiever of everything there is to win in the sport," and gifting him a No. 10 Tendulkar jersey. Messi presented Tendulkar a football in return. Fadnavis handed Messi a memento, thanking him for choosing Mumbai and telling him to watch for Mahadeva's children, who he said may represent India at a future FIFA World Cup.

Tiger Shroff and Ajay Devgn exchange greetings before the big moment. Pic/Ashish Raje

At exactly 5.50 pm, Messi left the turf. Within minutes, the crowd exited calmly, many heading back towards Churchgate with the satisfaction of witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime moment watching their hero play in the City of Dreams.

Hands go up for the king as Wankhede roars for Leo Messi. Pic/Ashish Raje