When 13-year-old Tanishka nutmegged Luis Suarez in front of Lionel Messi: ‘He looked at me with a surprised expression’

Messi in Mumbai Tour

13-year-old Tanishka Kawade found herself with the ball at her feet. What followed was both instinctive and fearless - she nutmegged Luis Suarez.

The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was packed to capacity, buzzing with noise and anticipation, as thousands of ardent fans gathered to catch a glimpse of football superstar Lionel Messi on Day 2 of “GOAT India Tour”.

Every seat in every stand was filled, every phone held high, as the global icon made his way around the ground. For 60 kids inside the venue, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the pitch with arguably the greatest footballer in history and pass the ball around with him.

Amid the spectacle, one moment stole the show. As Messi indulged in passes with the girls on the pitch, a moment unfolded that left even seasoned professionals stunned. 13-year-old Tanishka Kawade found herself with the ball at her feet. What followed was both instinctive and fearless – she nutmegged Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan forward, also Messi’s current teammate at Inter Miami, is here along with Rodrigo De Paul. And his reaction said it all.

Suarez was left jaw dropped; his expression frozen in disbelief, before a smile slowly followed. It was a brief exchange, but one that instantly became unforgettable. For Tanishka, the moment was surreal. “He didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with a surprised expression. It was a great feeling because my dream was to meet Ronaldo, but I met Messi – that was a big dream,” she told to reporters.

Moments later, Tanishka had another memory to treasure. When she met Messi, she showed him his name written on her hand. “He smiled at me,” she said. While one moment brought smiles and stunned reactions, another was filled with raw emotion. Nishka Nair, also 13, found herself overwhelmed the moment Messi stepped onto the field.

“When I saw Messi come in, I started crying because it was a very big moment for me. I never thought I would see Messi in person. It felt like I was in a dream,” she said. Tears streamed down her face as Messi approached. She shook hands with him more than once, exchanged a few words, and later stood with other girls, beside him for a photograph – moments she replayed repeatedly in her mind. “It was an awesome experience,” she said.

For Mishta Arun, the moment was quieter but just as powerful. Seeing Messi up close left her completely overwhelmed. “It was amazing, really. I loved it, honestly. I shook hands with him, and I was so in awe. It felt really amazing just to see him,” she said.