None spared! Ajay Devgn, CM Fadnavis and Tiger Shroff booed at Wankhede by spectators eager to see only Messi | WATCH

A moment of tension marked Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025 event at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Sunday when Bollywood stars Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff were booed by sections of the crowd during a felicitation ceremony. The event, attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, was the third stop of Messi’s India tour after Kolkata and Hyderabad, and drew massive crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the football icon.

The atmosphere shifted during the ceremonial introductions, as many fans appeared interested only in Messi and reacted negatively to extended celebrity appearances. Tiger Shroff, introduced as a youth icon and India’s youngest action star, represented the Maharashtra government’s Project Mahadeva, an initiative aimed at nurturing young football talent across the state. Ajay Devgn was acknowledged for his disciplined career and his association with football through his film Maidaan, based on the life of legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Despite these introductions, both actors were greeted with loud boos from parts of the stadium.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also faced jeers while addressing the audience. The situation briefly calmed when he invoked “Ganpati Bappa,” prompting the crowd to respond with chants of “Morya,” momentarily easing the tension.

Throughout the episode, Messi maintained a calm and professional demeanor, smiling and standing patiently. The mood improved significantly when cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar joined Messi for a special interaction. Their exchange of gifts—a Team India jersey from Tendulkar and a football from Messi—was warmly applauded. The celebration concluded on a high note with Messi holding the Indian flag, alongside teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul carrying their national flags. The tour continues in Delhi on Monday. (With inputs from Agencies)