Sachin Tendulkar calls Lionel Messi’s visit to Mumbai ‘golden moment’ for India | Cricket News
Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar has described Lionel Messi’s visit to Mumbai as a “golden moment” for both the city and the country, as the Argentine football superstar continues his India tour on Sunday. Tendulkar drew a parallel between Messi’s presence there and India’s triumph at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, a historic moment that took place on the same ground. Addressing the gathering, Tendulkar recalled the memories associated with Mumbai, calling it the city where innumerable dreams reached their destination. He referred to India’s ODI World Cup victory in 2011 and acknowledged the role of fans in making those moments possible. Tendulkar said the arrival of Messi, along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, added another special chapter to the venue’s history and praised the city’s warm welcome to the footballers.
Speaking about Messi, Tendulkar said there is not much left to say about a player who has achieved everything the sport can offer. He highlighted Messi’s dedication, determination and commitment, while emphasizing the humility he brings as a person. Tendulkar extended best wishes to Messi and his family on behalf of the Indians and thanked him for inspiring the young athletes. He also expressed hope that Indian football will one day reach the heights it aspires to. During the interaction, Tendulkar presented Messi with a No.10 jersey signed by him, while the World Cup-winning Argentina captain returned the gesture by gifting a football. Messi arrived in Mumbai around noon amid World Cup-level security arrangements, marking the second day of his four-city ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’. He is expected to conclude his tour on Monday in New Delhi, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Mumbai event followed a mixed start to the tour. While Saturday’s Kolkata leg was marred by crowd management issues and security lapses, the evening’s schedule in Hyderabad went off smoothly and ended on a positive note.
