Football fans in Hyderabad witnessed a memorable evening on Saturday as Argentine icon Lionel Messi appeared at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium as part of his GOAT Tour of India.
The event stood in sharp contrast to the chaos earlier in the day in Kolkata.
In Hyderabad, Messi arrived amid tight security to loud cheers from the crowd and spent time on the field, even kicking footballs into the stands. Fans responded with sustained applause and chants.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was present at the venue and took part in the exhibition match. He shared a few passes with Messi, who later scored an easy goal, drawing huge cheers from the stands. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present and posed for photographs with the football star.
Messi expressed his gratitude to the crowd during the event. “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. I’m truly grateful,” he said.
Messi’s Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suárez also attended the event. De Paul described the evening as special and thanked fans for their warmth, while Suárez greeted the crowd and thanked them for their love.
Earlier on Saturday in Kolkata, thousands of fans were left frustrated at Salt Lake Stadium after being unable to see Messi clearly. Many had paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 for tickets, with black market prices going as high as Rs 20,000. The situation escalated into disorder, with bottles thrown and stadium seats damaged.
Hyderabad, however, saw orderly crowd management and a festive atmosphere. Messi reached the stadium around 7:55 pm and stayed long enough to interact with fans and play football, leaving the crowd elated.
Following the events in Kolkata, authorities in Mumbai have announced heightened security for Messi’s visit on Sunday. Police said items such as water bottles, metal objects, and coins will be banned inside stadiums. Additional watchtowers and crowd control measures are being put in place to prevent any stampede or unrest.
Officials said the precautions are aimed at ensuring a smooth experience for fans and avoiding a repeat of the earlier disruptions, as Messi continues his short tour of India.