Lionel Messi receives iconic 2011 World Cup jersey from Sachin Tendulkar during GOAT India Tour in Mumbai

Lionel Messi received a rare and emotional gift in Mumbai on Sunday, December 14, when Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar handed him his signed 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup-winning jersey. The moment took place at the Wankhede Stadium, where thousands of fans gathered to see the Argentina captain during his GOAT India Tour. The meeting brought together two global sports icons and quickly became the biggest highlight of Messi’s stop in Mumbai.

Sachin Tendulkar presents his 2011 World Cup jersey to Lionel Messi at Wankhede Stadium

Sachin Tendulkar met Lionel Messi on Sunday evening at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai during the final leg of Messi’s GOAT India Tour. 

Tendulkar personally gifted Messi the jersey he wore during India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup victory, a tournament that India won at the same stadium on April 2, 2011.

As Tendulkar handed over the signed jersey, the two legends posed for photos and shared a short conversation on the field. Fans inside the stadium erupted into loud chants of “Sachin, Sachin,” creating an emotional atmosphere. 

Tendulkar wore a black shirt with white pants, while Lionel Messi kept it simple in a plain white shirt.

Event organizers said Tendulkar called the moment “very special,” while Lionel Messi thanked Indian fans for the warm welcome and said he felt “honored” to receive such a historic gift. 

The exchange was widely shared on social media within minutes of the event. Lionel Messi, who won the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and has claimed the Ballon d’Or eight times, arrived in Mumbai after earlier stops in Kolkata and Hyderabad as part of the India tour.

The greatest cricketer of all time who is a Messi fan, Sachin Tendulkar is set to meet the GOAT, Messi, in Mumbai,India.🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/jrWn8ydQCT

— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) December 14, 2025

Lionel Messi shares jerseys, scores exhibition penalty, and launches Project Maha-Deva

During the same event, Lionel Messi also gifted his Argentina national team jersey to Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri, who was present at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. 

The gesture drew loud cheers from the crowd, with many fans wearing Argentina jerseys in the stands. Messi later took part in a short exhibition moment on the pitch. 

He calmly converted a penalty kick and then kicked the ball into the crowd before walking around the ground and waving to fans. The stadium atmosphere turned electric as supporters recorded the moment on their phones.

Lionel Messi was joined by his Argentina teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul during the Mumbai stop of the tour.

Earlier in the evening, Messi inaugurated Project Maha-Deva, a grassroots football program launched by the Maharashtra Government. The five-year project aims to identify and train young football talent across the state. 

Officials said the program will focus on structured scouting, proper coaching models, and clear pathways to international-level training.

The initiative will be supported by the Western India Football Association for technical scouting, MITRA and VSTF for academic support, CIDCO for infrastructure, and the Maharashtra Department of Sports for coordination and policy work. The project will also place selected players in FIFA-accredited academies across India.