The Hyderabad leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT tour offered a sharp contrast to the chaos that marred the opening event in Kolkata, with fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium enjoying a far smoother and more engaging experience on the night.
Given what had unfolded in Kolkata, expectations were modest at best heading into the Hyderabad show. Instead, organisers appeared to have taken clear lessons from the earlier missteps, resulting in better crowd control, improved access for fans and a noticeably calmer atmosphere inside the stadium.
The evening began with a friendly match between Revanth Reddy 9s and Aparna All-Stars, setting a relaxed tone. Just minutes after kick-off, the noise levels inside the stadium surged, signalling the arrival of Messi and his entourage. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was already present at the venue, while Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy soon joined proceedings, even finding the net during the friendly as his side raced to a 4–0 lead.
ENTER MESSI AND CO
Play was halted midway to make way for Messi, Luis Surez and Rodrigo De Paul, who entered the ground to loud cheers. Unlike Kolkata, where Messi was quickly engulfed by layers of security personnel and VIPs, Hyderabad offered a clearer view. The Chief Minister was seen personally ensuring that no one crowded around Messi as he walked onto the pitch, allowing fans in the stands uninterrupted sightlines.
What followed was a series of fan-friendly moments that had been missing earlier in the tour. Messi and his teammates took part in light kickabouts with the Chief Minister and children on the field, interacting freely and smiling throughout. These were not brief, token gestures. Messi completed multiple laps of honour around the stadium, acknowledging supporters and soaking in the atmosphere.
Adding to the goodwill, Messi and his teammates kicked footballs into the stands, giving a handful of fans keepsakes from what could be described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The gestures were met with loud applause and chants, reinforcing the sense that Hyderabad had delivered the kind of football celebration supporters had hoped for.
MESSI ADDRESSES HYDERABAD
The evening concluded with a presentation ceremony, during which Messi addressed the crowd in Spanish. Thanking fans for their affection and support over the years, he said it was an honour to spend time in India and share the experience with supporters who had followed his journey, including during Argentina’s World Cup triumph.
“I just wanted to thank you for the love today and always. Honestly, I saw many things before arriving here, throughout all this time, during the last World Cup. And well, thank you very much for all the affection. It’s an honor for us to be able to share these days here in India with you. So I’m very grateful. Thank you very much,” Messi said during the presentation ceremony.
During the presentation ceremony, Rahul Gandhi was also seen having a small interaction with Messi himself.
In contrast to the disorder and disappointment in Kolkata, Hyderabad marked a reset for the GOAT tour. Better planning, tighter control of VIP access and a clear focus on fans ensured that this leg lived up to expectations, restoring some faith in the remainder of Messi’s India visit.
– Ends
