As Mumbai on Sunday prepares to receive Lionel Messi on the second-last leg of the Argentine footballer's GOAT tour, the police have issued a number of restrictions at the Wankhede and Brabourne stadiums.
VIDEO | Mumbai: Argentine footballer Lionel Messi arrives in the city for the next leg of the G.O.A.T India Tour as part of his scheduled visit.#LionelMessi #Mumbai #GOATIndiaTour
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 14, 2025
(Full VIDEO available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/xynMXWhRLA
This comes after the fiasco at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, when hordes of angry fans stormed the stadium and threw objects at the organisers after Messi's exit. At Hyderabad, however, things went smoothly, with peaceful (yet energetic) crowds that got to see Messi take a lap of the stadium and kick footballs into the stands.
Security measures have been tightened across Mumbai, with more than 2,000 police personnel deployed at the stadiums where Messi will show up.
VIDEO | Mumbai: Tight security arrangements in place at the airport ahead of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi's arrival.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 14, 2025
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai today for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity… pic.twitter.com/KLdjiJK0zO
Water bottles and all metal items (like coins) have been banned from these venues. Watchtowers are also being installed to monitor crowds, in addition to CCTV cameras and drones.
Traffic restrictions
The Mumbai Traffic Police have also issued a number of restrictions in various parts of the city to prevent traffic jams during Messi's visit.
Here is what you need to know about the traffic advisory for Mumbai on Sunday (especially in the South)—valid from 12 PM to 11 PM:
1) The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road from the Air India Junction to the Mafatlal Junction will be closed. Commuters headed to North Mumbai have been advised to go from the Ramnath Poddar Chowk to the Pandit Paluskar Chowk via the following route:
Maharshi Karve Road → Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk → Marine Lines → Charni Road.
2) The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Road from the Princess Street Bridge to the Air India Junction will also be closed. Commuters headed to South Mumbai have been advised to go from the Pandit Paluskar Chowk to the Ramnath Poddar Chowk via the following route:
Maharshi Karve Road → Charni Road → Marine Lines → Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk.
3) The Coastal Road (Worli to Marine Drive stretch) will be closed, so commuters going south have been advised to go from Haji Ali to the Ramnath Poddar Chowk via the following route:
Peddar Road → Pandit Paluskar Chowk → Maharshi Karve Road → Charni Road → Marine Lines → Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk.
From the Princess Street Bridge, take the Shamaldas Gandhi Marg to get to your destination via Vardhaman Chowk.
4) The Coastal Road (Worli to Marine Drive stretch) will be closed, so commuters going north have been advised to go from the Ramnath Poddar Chowk to Haji Ali via the following route:
Maharshi Karve Road → Ahilyabai Holkar Chowk → Marine Lines → Charni Road → Pandit Paluskar Chowk → Peddar Road.
