NEW DELHI: A tense moment unfolded at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium when Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff faced booing from the crowd during Lionel Messi’s event on Sunday. The incident took place during their felicitation by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.The event was part of Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025, with Mumbai being the third destination following shows in Kolkata and Hyderabad on Saturday. However, amid the excitement of seeing Messi up close, the crowd’s displeasure became evident during the recognition ceremony.
It looked as if many spectators wanted to see only Messi rather than celebrity appearances.Tiger Shroff, introduced as a “youth icon” and “India’s youngest action star”, represented the Maharashtra government’s initiative, Project Mahadeva. This initiative aims to develop young football talent across Maharashtra. Ajay Devgn’s introduction focused on his disciplined work ethic and his connection to football through his film Maidaan, which tells the story of coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Nevertheless, as both movie stars entered the pitch, their entries were met with loud boos from sections of fans. Watch: The crowd did not spare Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. As he addressed the gathering, his remarks were again met with loud boos from sections of the audience. The mood briefly shifted when the CM invoked “Ganpati Bappa,” prompting chants of “Morya” from the crowd that drowned out the jeers and created an interesting scene at the venue.Messi remained professional throughout the uncomfortable situation. He greeted everyone with a smile and stood quietly as the crowd expressed their displeasure.The event improved when cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar met Messi for a special interaction. They exchanged gifts, with Tendulkar giving a Team India jersey and Messi offering a football, which received enthusiastic applause.The celebration included a patriotic display as Messi held the Indian flag. His teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul carried their national flags of Uruguay and Argentina, respectively.Messi and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul are scheduled to continue their tour in Delhi on Monday.
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