NEW DELHI: It was a moment that transcended sport and sent fans into raptures as two global icons shared the same stage. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar presented his iconic No. 10 India jersey to football great Lionel Messi during the Argentine superstar's GOAT India Tour 2025, creating a grand spectacle that left fans in awe at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

The symbolic exchange between two of the greatest athletes of all time turned the occasion into a once-in-a-lifetime moment for sports lovers, celebrating excellence, legacy and mutual respect across disciplines.

During the third stop of his four-city GOAT India Tour, Messi spent exactly an hour at the Wankhede Stadium, interacting with young footballers, Tendulkar, Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri, and several celebrities from the entertainment industry.

On the occasion, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the launch of 'Project Mahadeva', an initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing young footballing talent across the state.

Throughout the event, the packed stadium reverberated with chants of "Messi... Messi," as fans created a rousing atmosphere for the Argentine superstar.

The legendary Argentine, along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, walked out to the field shortly after Tendulkar had arrived around 5:45pm.

Perhaps for the first time, the chants of "Sachin… Sachin" which have reverberated innumerable times at the Wankhede, even at times when the cricket icon was not in attendance, the crowd’s roar was loudest when they cheered "Messi… Messi" on the day.

But the decibel levels of the iconic "Sachin… Sachin" were back to the highest when the batting legend was called upon to share the stage with Messi later in the evening.

(With PTI Inputs)