‘Thank you, Mumbai police’: Lionel Messi fans applaud cops at Wankhede stadium after smooth GOAT India tour event

The spontaneous show of gratitude to the Mumbai police struck a chord online, with many users praising the officers for keeping things calm and organised during football legend Lionel Messi’s visit.

Lionel Messi GOAT tour Thank you Mumbai Police

Most fans were dressed in Argentina’s famous blue-and-white jerseys, while others wore Barcelona colours, celebrating different chapters of Messi’s storied career

Still riding high on the excitement of seeing Lionel Messi live at Wankhede stadium, hundreds of fans in Mumbai came together to do something unusual – thank the city police. Videos now circulating widely on social media show fans applauding in sync and chanting “Thank you” as police officers stood amid the crowd, visibly taken aback by the gesture.

Most fans were dressed in Argentina’s famous blue-and-white jerseys, while others wore Barcelona colours, celebrating different chapters of Messi’s storied career. The spontaneous show of gratitude struck a chord online, with many users praising the police for keeping things calm and organised during the football icon’s visit.

There had been apprehension after chaos marred Messi’s appearance in Kolkata earlier during the GOAT India tour, where crowd control issues overshadowed the event. However, those concerns didn’t materialise elsewhere. Mumbai, along with Hyderabad and Delhi, managed the massive turnout smoothly, allowing fans to enjoy the experience without disruption.

One of the viral clips was shared by Pratik Pawaskar, who wrote, “Hats off to @mumbaipolice for their exceptional crowd management. Thanks for all the hard work.”

Watch the video:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pratik Pawaskar (@pawaskarpratik)

The video drew warm responses, with comments like, “This made their day and everyone’s day,” and “Surely the best set of policemen, not only here but salutes to all mumbai policemen.” Another user summed it up by saying, “People love the police when the police are actually good.”

The moment also found traction on X, where an FC Barcelona Mumbai fan account reposted the video, amplifying its reach.

Thank You @MumbaiPolice 🥺 pic.twitter.com/ZkT1DXkwPW

— FCB MUMBAI 🇮🇳 (@fcbmumbai) December 14, 2025

Also Read | ‘Why are politicians surrounding Messi?’: Harsh Goenka’s strong reaction after chaos at Kolkata Stadium

Messi arrived in India early Saturday with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul as part of his GOAT India tour 2025. His first stop at Kolkata’s Salt Lake stadium, however, turned chaotic when fans, some of whom had paid up to Rs 14,000 for tickets, struggled to see him due to poor arrangements. Booing, chair-throwing and vandalism followed, leading to the arrest of the tour’s main organiser, Satadru Dutta.

After Kolkata, the tour moved on without major hiccups. In Hyderabad, Messi met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. In Mumbai, he shared moments with cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and former Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri at Wankhede stadium. The tour concluded in Delhi at the Arun Jaitley stadium.