Lionel Messi arrived at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where he was greeted by Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar for the second leg of his GOAT Tour of India.
Sachin presented his autographed limited-overs jersey with No. 10, which is also the number Messi sports during matches, while the Argentine presented a football to the batting legend. Messi also gifted his Argentina World Cup jerseys to former Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
On his third stop during his four-city GOAT India tour, Messi spent exactly one hour at the Wankhede, engaging with young football players, Tendulkar, Chhetri, as well as celebrities from the entertainment world.
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".
The 38-year-old arrived in Mumbai earlier in the day, accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. Messi, Suarez and de Paul also met Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan and her sons at the Brabourne Stadium.
Messi is also set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Delhi section of his tour on Monday. Messi will also meet the chief justice of India and the Army chief at a member of Parliament's house.
The final day of the GOAT India Tour will also see Messi exchanging greetings with two members of the Indian cricket team at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium.
(With PTI inputs)
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