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Hyderabad delivered a memorable footballing spectacle on Saturday night as Lionel Messi illuminated the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, giving fans a refined experience in stark contrast to the chaos that erupted in the first leg of his GOAT Tour earlier in Kolkata.
Messi landed in Kolkata, accompanied by his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, in the wee hours of Saturday, and thousands enthusiastically turned up at the airport to welcome him.
Expectant fans gathered at the Salt Lake Stadium to catch a glimpse of the football legend, but euphoria quickly turned into chaos as they struggled to see Messi’s face during his brief 22-minute appearance, leaving them unhappy.
Expressing their frustration at how the event unfolded, angry fans resorted to ripping up seats and throwing debris onto the pitch. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, headed to Hyderabad for the second leg of his day 1 GOAT Tour of India to play a 7v7 exhibition match with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
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Reddy exchanged a few passes with the Inter Miami forward during the event. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was also present, took photographs with Messi.
As the event in Hyderabad drew to a close, Messi took the microphone and addressed the crowd, saying:
“Thank you very much for all your affection. It's an honour for us to be able to spend these days here in India with you, so I'm truly grateful. Thank you so much.”
De Paul and Suarez also thanked the crowd. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder said:
“I've enjoyed a lot. This has been a very special night. Thank you so much for your love and affection.”
Suarez then added:
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for the love. A big hug!”
Lionel Messi will visit four major cities during his 2025 GOAT Tour of India.
Lionel Messi arrives Mumbai for next stop of GOAT Tour
According to ANI, Lionel Messi has arrived in Mumbai for the third venue of the GOAT Tour as he continues his visit to the country. Reports claimed that following the chaos in Kolkata, the Mumbai Police is not taking it lightly and has put strict security measures in place in the city for the 38-year-old.
Over 2,000 police personnel are deployed across the Brabourne (CCI) and Wankhede Stadiums, with barricades, watchtowers, and public announcement systems in place to manage the high-profile event.
News agency ANI also disclosed Messi’s location in a video, saying he arrived at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. As part of his Mumbai visit, under-14 footballers from across Maharashtra, selected by the sports department, will have the unique opportunity to practice with Messi on Sunday.
