Mumbai buzzed with excitement on October 3 as Olympic legend Usain Bolt traded his track spikes for football boots in a lively 5-vs-5 all-star exhibition match at Mukesh Mills. The event, put together by PUMA India, aimed to spotlight India’s growing love for football and drew top players from Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC, plus a dash of Bollywood glamour.
Bolt, famous for his sprinting dominance, jumped right into the action, switching sides to keep things fun and fast-paced. Fans cheered wildly as he dashed across the field, showing off the same speed and showmanship that made him a global icon. His passion for the “beautiful game” shone through, proving football ranks right up there with his track stardom.
The night kicked off with Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan flipping the coin for the toss, which Bengaluru FC won. She stuck around the sidelines, rooting for both teams as the goals flew in and the crowd roared.
“Football has been one of my first loves after track and field,” Bolt said after the match. “Playing in Mumbai with athletes, celebrities, and fans was electric. The passion, the noise, the atmosphere—that’s the kind of high that sticks with you long after the whistle.”
India’s football heroes stole the show too. Sunil Chhetri fired off precise passes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made stunning saves, and Mumbai City FC standouts like Suresh Wangjam, Akash Mishra, and Phurba Lachenpa dazzled with their skills. Bollywood added extra sparkle, with Dino Morea and Aparshakti Khurana joining the pitch-side fun.
This isn’t Bolt’s first trip to India for sports thrills. Back in 2014, he visited for sponsor promotions and even took on cricket star Yuvraj Singh in an exhibition match at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, followed by a quick 100-meter dash.
Bolt’s athletic legacy remains unbeatable: eight Olympic gold medals, 13 World Championship wins (including 11 golds), and world records in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relays. Even since retiring from competition in 2017, he stays one of the world’s biggest sports stars.
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