Messi received a grand welcome at the packed stadium on Sunday, drawing fans eager to catch a glimpse of the Argentine legend. However, the mood shifted when several celebrities and dignitaries were called on stage for interactions and felicitation ceremonies, limiting Messi’s on-field presence for the general audience.

According to videos circulating on social media, the crowd began booing when Tiger Shroff was invited on stage and introduced as a youth icon associated with Project Mahadeva, a football development initiative aimed at identifying and training young talent across Maharashtra. The hooting intensified as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis felicitated Shroff by draping a shawl over him.

A similar reaction followed when Ajay Devgn was called to the stage and honoured for his film Maidaan, which is based on the life of legendary Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. Despite the recognition, sections of the audience continued to voice their frustration, signalling disappointment over what they perceived as excessive focus on VIPs rather than the football star they had come to see.

Chief Minister Fadnavis also faced interruptions while addressing the crowd. He attempted to calm the audience by chanting “Ganpati Bappa,” after which the atmosphere gradually settled. Throughout the episode, Messi remained composed, standing on stage, smiling and observing the proceedings without reacting to the unrest.

Social media users echoed the sentiment from the stands, with one clip captioned, “The crowd came to see Messi, not VIPs,” reflecting broader dissatisfaction over event management and access.

The incident has reignited debate around VIP culture at high-profile sporting events in India, with fans calling for better crowd engagement and fewer interruptions during appearances by global sports icons.