Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City had made a “big statement” in the Premier League title race with their 3-0 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday.Guardiola’s side struggled to impose themselves for long spells at Selhurst Park but Erling Haaland’s header late in the first half finally broke the deadlock. After riding their luck thanks to several missed Palace chances before and after Haaland’s opener, City showed a ruthless streak to kill off the Eagles. Phil Foden drilled home from the edge of the area before Haaland added a late third from the penalty spot. Pep Guardiola Second-placed City have now won four in a row in the league and sit just two points behind leaders Arsenal as the title race heats up. Guardiola was especially impressed with the way City dug deep to subdue tenacious Palace just days after their draining 2-1 win at Real Madrid in the Champions League. “Always when you approach the game, whoever the opponent, on your terms, good things are going to happen. There’s no sense to playing football without being who you are as an individual,” Guardiola said. “Still we are not at the top, but we are learning. We will be closer in the future. After playing in the Bernabeu, then we prepared to play the FA Cup winners.” It was a sweet victory for Guardiola after he was out-witted by Palace boss Oliver Glasner in last season’s shock FA Cup final defeat at Wembley. “It’s behind a lot of work. Palace are so strong. Every time we play them it’s so difficult,” he said. Guardiola conceded City are still a work in progress following his expensive overhaul of the squad since last season. “Many things we have to improve. Madrid gave me a lot of things, that still we are not ready, not in mentality but in how to approach certain games. They are young some of the players. But 3-0 here is a big statement for us,” he said. 2No. of points between leaders Arsenal and second-placed Manchester City 4No. of matches Man City have won on the trot This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 December,2025 10:11 AM IST | London | AFPYet again, Mumbai pulled one of the biggest events in India's sporting history with ease at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Argentina's legendary footballer, Lionel Messi, visited Wankhede on day two of his “GOAT India Tour”. During the event, the stadium was completely filled with fans and celebrities from different fields. Cricket stars such as Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh, along with Bollywood celebrities including Tiger Shroff, Shahid Kapoor and others, made their appearances at the venue. The moment that stood out the most was when the Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri greeted Messi. The Argentine footballer also presented Chhetri with his national team jersey, bearing his autograph on it. Despite the presence of several bigwigs from different fields, no injuries or unfortunate incidents were reported in Mumbai. Although the city witnessed some traffic on the streets of Marine Lines, it was efficiently managed by the Mumbai Police. Fans appreciated the Mumbai Police by clapping and cheering for them outside the stadium. Gracias, मुंबईकरांनो! तुमच्या प्रेमाने आणि GOAT सपोर्टने आज आमच्याही चेहऱ्यावर हसू आणलं.#MumbaiPolice4All#MumbaikarsAlwaysGOAT pic.twitter.com/SCjgYyHdpX — मुंबई पोलीस Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) December 14, 2025 The Argentine superstar, along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, appeared to have enjoyed the event in our very own Mumbai. The stadium, known for hosting various cricketing events, witnessed a football event for the first time, which will be etched in the hearts of millions of Indian fans. Earlier, Mumbai had also conducted Team India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory parade without recording any injuries. With this, Mumbaikars once again showcased that when it comes to hosting major events in India, no city turns out to be better than the country's financial capital. A day before his Mumbai visit, fans experienced poor managerial planning in Kolkata. Several fans said that the footballer was present at the venue for less than 20 minutes and were unable to get a glimpse as he was mobbed by politicians and VIPs. The Sree Bhumi Sporting Club at Lake Town in South Dum Dum also constructed a 70-foot iron statue of the footballer. Lionel Messi unveiled the statue virtually on Saturday. Later, the event in Hyderabad turned out to be a successful one for Messi. He was also seen playing football with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
15 December,2025 02:17 PM IST | Mumbai | Sujay ShivalkarArgentine football great Lionel Messi's arrival for the final leg of his G.O.A.T Tour here has been delayed after his flight was deferred due to inclement weather. Messi, who was in Mumbai for the second day of his three-day whirlwind trip to India, was to land in the national capital earlier this morning but his charter flight was held up due to foggy conditions here. Messi is currently at the Mumbai airport and is expected to leave shortly for the final set of engagements, which includes an appearance at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium for a ticketed event. The World Cup winner regaled fans in Mumbai last evening, posing alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and a bevy of Bollywood stars and politicians. Before Mumbai, he also made similar appearances in Hyderabad and Kolkata. The Kolkata leg was marred by chaotic scenes at the stadium as frustrated fans ripped apart seats and stormed the Salt Lake Stadium pitch after failing to catch a glimpse of the superstar, who was surrounded by politicians and officials. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 December,2025 12:44 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIArsenal avoided a major embarrassment against English Premier League’s (EPL) cellar-dwellers, Wolves, requiring two own-goals — one in added time — to win 2-1 on Saturday. However, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta opted to see the brighter side of things, claiming that a gritty win like this shows his side’s resilience. “This [win] gives you belief that regardless of how the game goes, we can always find a solution to win it,” Arteta said. However, with the amount of chances that they had in the first-half, Arteta admitted that the margin of victory should have been bigger, and lamented a period of complacency in the second-half for making matters tougher than it needed to be. Mikel Arteta “There’s a very clear understanding that the margin should have been bigger. We were not precise enough in the first-half with the amount of chances we generated. After [our first goal] we had a period with horrible defensive habits, that is nowhere near the required level,” said Arteta. The Gunners struck first in the 70th minute as Bukayo Saka’s shot was parried by Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone onto the post, only for the ball to rebound off it, hit Johnstone’s arm and go into the net. Wolves pulled level in the 90th minute with Tolu Arokodare’s header. But just as the Arsenal fans contemplated a draw, the Gunners benefited from a second own-goal as Saka’s cross was diverted into the net by Wolves defender Yerson Mosquera. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 December,2025 09:58 AM IST | London | AgenciesMessi mania reached Mumbai’s shores on Saturday and none of his fans could get enough, not even those from the realm of Bollywood. Superstar actor Kareena Kapoor Khan was one of the lucky ones, who got a chance of meeting the Argentine face to face along with her two kids, Taimur (eight years) and Jehangir (four years). Kareena, dressed in a chic khaki-coloured outfit, posed for the pic alongside Messi, with her sons wearing replicas of Messi’s iconic No. 10 Argentina jersey. They also met with ex-Uruguay and Barcelona star Luis Suarez, and Messi’s World Cup-winning teammate Rodrigo de Paul. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Lionel Messi. Pics/Kareena’s Instagram and Getty Images The 45-year-old actor wasn’t the only Bollywood star at Wankhede Stadium. The likes of Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff also had a chance to meet Messi on Wankhede’s hallowed turf. Messi’s visit to Mumbai is the third leg of the ‘GOAT Tour,’ which began on Saturday at Kolkata, before moving to Hyderabad on the same day. The ex-Barcelona star will travel to New Delhi on Monday for the final leg of his event in India.
15 December,2025 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentArgentina's legendary footballer Lionel Messi made his appearance at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as part of the "GOAT India Tour". This also marked the second day of the marquee event. During the event, Messi shared a warm hug with the Indian football legend, Sunil Chhetri. Messi greeted the Secunderabad-born footballer with Argentina's national football team jersey. Over the years, Chhetri has achieved the feat of being the fourth-highest international goalscorer and the all-time top goalscorer for India. Messi was also accompanied by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul at the Wankhede Stadium. During the event, the Argentine footballer also met the legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, who is the highest run-scorer in the history of the game. Speaking at the event, the former cricketer said that without the Wankhede Stadium's crowd, the ODI World Cup triumph in 2011 would not have been impossible. "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," he said. "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," added Tendulkar. Further, the former cricketer also said that Messi has achieved everything in his sport, and everybody admires him for his dedication and commitment. "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," said the 52-year-old former cricketer. The Mumbai-born cricketer also presented his No 10 jersey to Messi with his signature on it. The Argentine World Cup-winning captain reciprocated with a football.
15 December,2025 08:54 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra 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. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
14 December,2025 10:01 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIArgentina's legendary footballer Lionel Messi met cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai as a part of the "GOAT India Tour". Following Messi's visit, Tendulkar termed it a golden moment for Mumbai and India. Speaking at the event, the former cricketer said that without the Wankhede Stadium's crowd, the ODI World Cup triumph in 2011 would not have been impossible. "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," he said. "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," added Tendulkar. Further, the former cricketer also said that Messi has achieved everything in his sport, and everybody admires him for his dedication and commitment. "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," said the 52-year-old former cricketer. The Mumbai-born cricketer also presented his No 10 jersey to Messi with his signature on it. 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". 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. (With PTI Inputs)
14 December,2025 08:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOne of the greatest football icons, Lionel Messi, has arrived in Mumbai, marking his second day of the "GOAT India Tour". After Kolkata and Hyderabad, the football icon has attended the Padel GOAT Club event in Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium, and will also attend a celebrity football match later in the afternoon. Later, he will arrive at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and will be accompanied by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul for the main event of the "GOAT India Tour". Ahead of his arrival at the Wankhede Stadium, several fans have expressed their excitement. Vedansh, a football fan said that for him it has always been Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo and is excited to witness a global superstar in India. "For the first time, a global superstar is in India... It's very close to Pune, and it's amazing to see him live... I started watching football from around 2012-13. Since then, there has always been debate about Ronaldo and Messi. For me, it was always Messi, and I loved his play. The 2022 World Cup also had immense glory. I loved it. He has that legacy," he said. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: On Argentine footballer Lionel Messi's event at Wankhede Stadium, a fan named Vedansh, says, "For the first time, a global superstar is in India... It's very close to Pune, and it's amazing to see him live... I started watching football from around… pic.twitter.com/zEjjOmQg3G — ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2025 "I am here to see Messi. Actually, I was also in Hyderabad, but Hyderabad was announced later. I had already booked the tickets for Mumbai. I always wanted to see Messi... It's my dream to see him... I am very, very excited. I will cry if I see him. I am that excited," said another fan, Abhinav. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: A fan named Abhinav says, "I am here to see Messi. Actually, I was also in Hyderabad, but Hyderabad was announced later. I had already booked the tickets for Mumbai. I always wanted to see Messi... It's my dream to see him... I am very, very excited.… pic.twitter.com/yPvBcqVV1b — ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2025 "I am excited to see the World Cup winner here in Maharashtra, Mumbai. And we are looking forward to it in the Wankhede Stadium... He's the GOAT. The way he dribbles the ball and controls the game. He's my favourite player... We have travelled all the way from Pune, three hours by local train, and we are here now towards Messi," said another fan. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: A fan says, "I am excited to see the World Cup winner here in Maharashtra, Mumbai. And we are looking forward to it in the Wankhede Stadium... He's the GOAT. The way he dribbles the ball and controls the game. He's my favourite player... We have… pic.twitter.com/zywzGQ68xV — ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2025 Earlier, the 38-year-old Argentine footballer made his appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, which turned out to be a major disappointment for the football fans. Several fans said that the footballer was present at the venue for less than 20 minutes and were also unable to get a glimpse as he was mobbed by the politicians and VIPs. The Sree Bhumi Sporting Club at Lake Town in South Dum Dum also constructed a 70-foot iron statue of the footballer. Messi unveiled the statue virtually on Saturday. Later, the event in Hyderabad turned out to be a successful one for Messi. He was also seen playing football with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
14 December,2025 05:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLionel Messi’s GOAT Tour began amid chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, but for former India players Dipendu Biswas and Syed Rahim Nabi, it still turned into the moment of a lifetime here on Saturday. Biswas, who represented the Mohun Bagan Messi XI in the exhibition match against the Diamond Harbour Messi XI, was among the few who walked away with memories to cherish forever. “Messi signed on the left side of my jersey, Suarez on the right, and Rodrigo De Paul in the centre,” Biswas told PTI, still visibly overwhelmed. “He was all smiles. I was blessed to touch his magical left foot,” Dipendu, who is actually a decade older than Messi, stated. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
14 December,2025 09:09 AM IST | Kolkata | PTIAn event building anticipation and excitement for the past couple of months turned into complete chaos in just a matter of minutes. The first stop of football legend Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour of India was a total let down for fans with thousands in the stands unable to even get a proper glimpse of the Argentine great during his brief 22-minute stay at the Salt Lake Stadium here. The 2022 World Cup-winning star landed in the City of Joy late at around 2.30 am on Saturday, and left at 2.10 pm. The fans had started arriving very early in the morning, waiting in front of the stadium gates. It was a packed house with many more waiting outside. A huge number had also turned up at the airport at midnight. Messi, 38, was heavily guarded by the police for as long as he walked around the stadium, making it very difficult for the ticket-paying fans to spot him through the commotion. Many said they couldn’t see the icon at all. The crowd shelled out huge sums, ranging from R5000 to R50,000 with many tickets being resold at higher values. Angry fans vandalise the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday Angry and frustrated, the spectators threw chairs and other heavy materials onto the ground as soon as Messi left. Many even breached the security and vandalised some of the equipment on the ground. According to the schedule, Messi, who recently won the MLS Cup with Inter Miami, was not supposed to play. He was supposed to take a few penalty kicks and congratulate the Bengal footballers who won the Santosh trophy last year. But eventually the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star could not do anything. He just inaugurated a 70-feet statue of himself virtually from his hotel room. The Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee was unable to enter the stadium as she was stuck in the traffic jam that ensued. Later, she said wrote a lengthy social media post apologising to the people of Bengal for the mess. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, who was supposed to be present at the event, was not to be seen. The chief organiser Satadru Dutta has been taken into custody as the state has begun an investigation into why the event was handled so poorly. A three-member enquiry committee has been formed with retired chief justice Ashok Kumar Roy in charge. Messi visited Hyderabad later in the evening. 22No. of minutes Messi spent at the Salt Lake Stadium
14 December,2025 09:06 AM IST | Kolkata | Debasish DattaADVERTISEMENT
