Messi Steals the Show as Ajay Devgn-Tiger Shroff Face Awkward Boos at Mumbai Event
Lionel Messi’s much-hyped G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 thrilled fans across the country over the weekend, but his Mumbai appearance at the iconic Wankhede Stadium witnessed an unexpected moment of unrest. While the Argentine football legend remained calm and composed throughout the event, sections of the crowd grew visibly impatient, leading to Bollywood celebrities being booed during the star-studded meet-and-greet.
Messi arrived in Mumbai on Sunday after successful stops in Kolkata and Hyderabad, where fans turned out in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the global football icon. As expected at a high-profile Mumbai event, several film celebrities were also present, including Kareena Kapoor Khan with her sons Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff, and Geeta Basra.
However, as celebrity interactions continued on stage, many fans reportedly felt that time meant for Messi was being taken away. Videos circulating on social media show impatience building in the stands, which soon turned into loud booing when Bollywood actors were introduced one after another.
Tiger Shroff was among the first to face the crowd’s reaction. He was invited on stage as a youth icon associated with Project Mahadeva, a football development initiative aimed at nurturing young talent across Maharashtra. His appearance came during a felicitation ceremony led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, when a section of the audience began booing, disrupting the proceedings.
The reaction continued when Ajay Devgn was called up next. The actor was being honoured for his film Maidaan, which highlights India’s football legacy and chronicles the life of legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Despite the significance of the recognition, the crowd’s impatience remained evident, with many fans clearly eager to see Messi take centre stage.
Sharing a clip from the event, one user wrote on X, “Announcer Please welcome youth icon Tiger Shroff. Crowd - BOOOOOOOO!!! Surprisingly, even Ajay Devgn was booed. The crowd had purely come to see Messi and Indian legends like Tendulkar and Chhetri.”
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also faced a similar response while addressing the gathering. The atmosphere briefly softened when he invoked ‘Ganpati Bappa’, prompting chants of ‘Morya’ from the crowd. Throughout the entire episode, Messi maintained a professional and composed demeanor, smiling and patiently waiting on stage as the programme continued.
The mood inside Wankhede shifted dramatically when cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar joined Messi for a special interaction. The moment was met with thunderous applause and cheers. Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri also received loud chants and applause, moments that many fans felt truly reflected the spirit of the event.
Despite the brief unrest, the evening also featured personal and memorable moments for several celebrity families. Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has often spoken about her sons’ admiration for Messi, attended the event with Taimur and Jeh. Sharing pictures ahead of the meet-and-greet, she wrote, “Got dressed up to take the boys to meet their hero ⚽️ Thank you to my @hsbc_in family for making it happen 🤎.”
Messi arrived in Mumbai on Sunday after successful stops in Kolkata and Hyderabad, where fans turned out in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the global football icon. As expected at a high-profile Mumbai event, several film celebrities were also present, including Kareena Kapoor Khan with her sons Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff, and Geeta Basra.
However, as celebrity interactions continued on stage, many fans reportedly felt that time meant for Messi was being taken away. Videos circulating on social media show impatience building in the stands, which soon turned into loud booing when Bollywood actors were introduced one after another.
Tiger Shroff was among the first to face the crowd’s reaction. He was invited on stage as a youth icon associated with Project Mahadeva, a football development initiative aimed at nurturing young talent across Maharashtra. His appearance came during a felicitation ceremony led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, when a section of the audience began booing, disrupting the proceedings.
The reaction continued when Ajay Devgn was called up next. The actor was being honoured for his film Maidaan, which highlights India’s football legacy and chronicles the life of legendary coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Despite the significance of the recognition, the crowd’s impatience remained evident, with many fans clearly eager to see Messi take centre stage.
Sharing a clip from the event, one user wrote on X, “Announcer Please welcome youth icon Tiger Shroff. Crowd - BOOOOOOOO!!! Surprisingly, even Ajay Devgn was booed. The crowd had purely come to see Messi and Indian legends like Tendulkar and Chhetri.”
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also faced a similar response while addressing the gathering. The atmosphere briefly softened when he invoked ‘Ganpati Bappa’, prompting chants of ‘Morya’ from the crowd. Throughout the entire episode, Messi maintained a professional and composed demeanor, smiling and patiently waiting on stage as the programme continued.
The mood inside Wankhede shifted dramatically when cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar joined Messi for a special interaction. The moment was met with thunderous applause and cheers. Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri also received loud chants and applause, moments that many fans felt truly reflected the spirit of the event.
Despite the brief unrest, the evening also featured personal and memorable moments for several celebrity families. Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has often spoken about her sons’ admiration for Messi, attended the event with Taimur and Jeh. Sharing pictures ahead of the meet-and-greet, she wrote, “Got dressed up to take the boys to meet their hero ⚽️ Thank you to my @hsbc_in family for making it happen 🤎.”
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