Aspiring footballers under the age of 13 from across Maharashtra got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Global Icon Lionel Messi on Sunday at Wankhede Stadium as part of the Mumbai leg of his GOAT Tour. The selected children, chosen through a rigorous process involving district-level trials, regional rounds, and a final selection camp, interacted with the Argentine Legend during the launch of Project Mahadeva — a grassroots initiative aimed at nurturing future football talent in the state. Each child will receive a five-year scholarship covering professional coaching, nutrition, academic support, equipment, and mental conditioning to help them compete at the international level.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis joins Messi at the event, which is backed by a multi-agency Memorandum of Understanding between the State’s School Education Department, Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Maharashtra Institute for Transformation (MITRA), Western India Football Association (WIFA), and Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF). The collaboration is designed to systematically develop football at the grassroots across rural and urban Maharashtra.

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Messi arrived in Mumbai on Sunday morning after a successful event in Hyderabad, with his packed itinerary also including a Padel tournament at the Cricket Club of India alongside Sachin Tendulkar, the GOAT Cup Exhibition Match at 5 p.m. at Wankhede Stadium featuring celebrities, and a charity fashion show where his 2022 World Cup memorabilia will be auctioned.

The Mumbai leg follows a chaotic start to the tour in Kolkata, where the main organiser Satadru Dutta was arrested after angry fans vandalised parts of Salt Lake Stadium when they were unable to see Messi clearly. Authorities have stepped up security measures in Mumbai to ensure smooth conduct of all events.

Despite the controversy in Kolkata, excitement remains high in Mumbai as young footballers prepare to meet their idol, marking a significant boost for grassroots football development in Maharashtra through one of the sport’s greatest-ever players.

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