Lionel Messi's India Visit Marred by Boos: CM Fadnavis, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff Face Crowd's Ire

Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025 hit a snag at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on Sunday when the crowd booed Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff. The incident occurred during a felicitation ceremony where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also faced jeers from the audience.

The spectators' discontent was apparent as they seemed more enthusiastic about seeing Messi than the scheduled celebrity appearances. The event in Mumbai was the third stop on Messi's tour, following Kolkata and Hyderabad.

Tiger Shroff, who was introduced as a youth icon and the youngest action star in India, was present to represent the Maharashtra government's Project Mahadeva, an initiative focused on developing young football talent in the state. Ajay Devgn's introduction highlighted his disciplined work ethic and his connection to football through his film 'Maidaan,' which tells the story of coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Despite these introductions, the crowd responded with loud boos as the actors took the stage.

Chief Minister Fadnavis also faced a similar reaction when he addressed the crowd. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the mood shifted briefly when he invoked “Ganpati Bappa,” leading to chants of “Morya” that momentarily overshadowed the jeers. Throughout the situation, Messi maintained his composure, greeting everyone with a smile and remaining quiet as the crowd voiced their displeasure.

The atmosphere improved when cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar met Messi for a special interaction. They exchanged gifts, with Tendulkar presenting a Team India jersey and Messi offering a football, which was met with enthusiastic applause. As part of the celebration, Messi held the Indian flag, while his teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul carried their national flags of Uruguay and Argentina, respectively. Messi and his Inter Miami teammates are scheduled to continue their tour in Delhi on Monday.