Connect with us

Sports

‘Golden moment’ as Messi meets Tendulkar, Chhetri on India tour

Published

on

‘Golden moment’ as Messi meets Tendulkar, Chhetri on India tour


Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar (right) gifts his signatured T-shirt to Argentina’s footballer Lionel Messi during his Goat Tour at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025. — X/@ sachin_rt

Football icon Lionel Messi’s second day in India passed smoothly on Sunday, after a chaotic opening to his three-day tour, as the World Cup winner kicked balls into the crowd and met cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Messi greeted excited fans decked out in Argentina football jerseys at a packed Wankhede stadium in India’s financial hub, Mumbai, as supporters chanted his name.

The 38-year-old Argentina and Inter Miami superstar took centre stage in the presence of India’s sporting royalty including Tendulkar and football star Sunil Chhetri.

Messi along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul are part of a so-called Goat Tour of a cricket-crazy nation.

Argentinas footballers Lionel Messi (Right) and Rodrigo De Paul arrive to attend an event during Messi´s GOAT Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025.— AFP
Argentina’s footballers Lionel Messi (Right) and Rodrigo De Paul arrive to attend an event during Messi´s GOAT Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025.— AFP

Cricket great Tendulkar presented Messi with his iconic number 10 jersey from India’s 2011 World Cup triumph at the same venue.

“I have spent some incredible moments here,” said batting star Tendulkar.

Argentinas footballer Lionel Messi (L) and Indias former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar attend an event during Messis Goat Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025. — AFP
Argentina’s footballer Lionel Messi (L) and India’s former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar attend an event during Messi’s Goat Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025. — AFP

“Mumbai is a city of dreams and number of dreams have seen the finish line here on this very venue and without your support we could never have seen those golden moments in 2011.

“And today having all three greats of game here is indeed a golden moment for Mumbai, Mumbaikars and India.”

Argentinas footballer Lionel Messi greets fans during his Goat Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025.— AFP
Argentina’s footballer Lionel Messi greets fans during his Goat Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025.— AFP

Although a cricket powerhouse, the nation of 1.4 billion struggles on the football pitch and are 142nd on the Fifa rankings.

“Thank you for being here and encouraging youngsters,” said Tendulkar. “I hope football here in India also reaches the heights that we all aspire.”

Argentinas footballer Lionel Messi (Right) interacts with a young fan during his Goat Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025.— AFP
Argentina’s footballer Lionel Messi (Right) interacts with a young fan during his Goat Tour at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on December 14, 2025.— AFP

The Mumbai event went smoothly compared to Saturday’s in the eastern city of Kolkata where heavy security left fans struggling to catch a glimpse of Messi.

Frustrated fans, many having paid more than $100 for tickets, broke down barricades and stormed the pitch after the superstar abruptly left the arena.

Spectators also ripped out stadium seats and hurled water bottles onto the track.

One person has been arrested for the incident.

Before the chaos erupted, Messi unveiled a 21-metre (70-foot) statue which shows him holding aloft the World Cup in 2022.

The footballer was in Hyderabad city later on Saturday where he addressed the crowd briefly in Spanish.

Messi wraps up his India tour on Monday, with a possible meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The footballer won his second consecutive Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award this week after propelling Inter Miami to the MLS title and leading the league in goals.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward will spearhead Argentina’s defence of the World Cup in June-July in North America.





Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Pak-India match: Battle for semi-final ticket between traditional rivals – SUCH TV

Published

on

Pak-India match: Battle for semi-final ticket between traditional rivals – SUCH TV



Today is a very important and decisive clash between India and Pakistan to reach the semi-finals in the Under-19 World Cup 2026.

This important match will be played today, Sunday, in Zimbabwe, which will start at 12:30 pm according to Pakistani time and 1 pm according to Indian time.

This match is the last match of the Super Six stage and one team is yet to be decided for the semi-finals, England from Group 2 has already qualified for the semi-finals, while the other team will be India or Pakistan.

India is currently in a better position with six points and its net run rate is 3.337, it is very easy for India, it only has to win the match and it will qualify for the semi-finals.

But on the other hand, Pakistan has four points and its net run rate is 1.484, which is significantly lower than India. Pakistan not only needs to win this match but also by a large margin to equal India in points and also surpass them in net run rate.

If Pakistan scores 300 runs batting first, it will need to win by at least 85 runs. If Pakistan bowls first and restricts India to around 200 runs, the target will have to be achieved in 31.5 overs.

If India scores 251 runs, Pakistan will have to achieve this target in around 33.2 overs to make it to the semi-finals.

It should be noted that this match will not be just about winning or losing but will be a test of runs, overs and nerves where a small slip-up can knock one team out of the World Cup.



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Alabama judge recused from Charles Bediako’s eligibility case

Published

on

Alabama judge recused from Charles Bediako’s eligibility case


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The judge in Alabama men’s basketball player Charles Bediako‘s eligibility lawsuit against the NCAA has recused himself from the case.

Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge James Roberts filed the order Wednesday, according to court documents. AL.com first reported Roberts’ recusal.

The case was reassigned to Judge Daniel Pruet, an Alabama graduate who is overseeing the murder case involving former Crimson Tide player Darius Miles.

The NCAA filed a motion for recusal Tuesday, noting Roberts’ donations to the university as well as public perception that his relationship with Alabama athletics could alter his judgment in the case. Roberts was listed as a donor on the Crimson Tide Foundation’s website.

“Courts in Alabama and beyond have widely recognized that a mere appearance of partiality is sufficient to require the recusal of a trial judge,” the NCAA wrote. “This appearance can be compounded by widespread media and public scrutiny questioning the trial court’s impartiality. Despite the NCAA’s confidence that the Court can disregard his connections to the University of Alabama and its athletics programs, recusal is still necessary to protect these proceedings from an appearance of impropriety.”

Bediako’s attorneys did not oppose the motion.

Bediako is suing the NCAA in an attempt to regain college eligibility despite leaving school and entering the 2023 NBA draft. He went undrafted but signed a two-way NBA contract and played the past three seasons in the G League. Roberts granted a temporary restraining order last week that allows Bediako to play for the Crimson Tide, at least until a hearing on an injunction can be held.

No. 23 Alabama plays at No. 19 Florida on Sunday.

The NCAA and several college coaches, including Florida’s Todd Golden, have strongly opposed Bediako’s return to college basketball.



Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson fined for ‘berating’ and ‘making contact’ with an official

Published

on

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson fined for ‘berating’ and ‘making contact’ with an official


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was fined $50,000 for “aggressively pursuing, berating and making inadvertent contact with a game official,” the NBA announced Saturday. 

The league’s announcement said the incident happened with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s 126-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns Friday. 

Atkinson was assessed his second technical foul of the game when he stormed the court after a no-call against Sam Merrill for driving on Collin Gillespie after he bumped into an official before being escorted off and ejected from the game. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat April 28, 2025, in Miami.  (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)

Atkinson whipped his arm against the nearby referee before the whistle was blown. 

Atkinson ripped the officials in a postgame news conference. 

PGA TOUR STAR JUSTIN THOMAS RIPS NCAA FOR CURRENT STATE OF COLLEGE SPORTS

Kenny Atkinson

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers during Game 2 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland May 6, 2025. (David Richard-Imagn Images)

“We had one free throw after three quarters against a team that [is 26th in fouls],” Atkinson said. “And the second free throw we got was after a flop. I’m not pleased. I thought the game got out of hand, quite honestly. Parts of the game seemed circus-like, quite honestly. I don’t know if that’s what we want as a league.

“Certain characters in this league take liberties, and we don’t stand up to them. And the game turns into reviews, challenges, go to the monitor for 20 minutes when we’re just trying to play basketball. I don’t think it’s good for the league, and I know it wasn’t good for us tonight. Thought they let the game get out of hand.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during the first half against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

The Cavaliers fell to 29-21, while Phoenix improved to 30-19. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





Source link

Continue Reading

Trending