GOAT India tour: Lionel Messi plays football with CM Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad | Watch

Hyderabad: Hyderabad erupted in celebration on Saturday night as football legend Lionel Messi took to the pitch with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy during an exhibition match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The brief but memorable on-field moment came as part of Messi’s three-day visit to India under the ‘GOAT India Tour’ 2025, drawing loud cheers from thousands of spectators.

Messi arrived at the stadium at around 7:55 pm IST after reaching the city earlier in the evening, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez. The Argentine World Cup winner exchanged passes with Revanth Reddy and later scored a simple goal, prompting a wave of excitement in the stands. Videos of the interaction quickly flooded social media, going viral within minutes.

The Hyderabad event features a 7v7 exhibition football match organised by the Telangana government, marking the second stop of Messi’s India tour. Revanth Reddy joined Messi on the field during the match, a gesture that was met with thunderous applause from fans.

The programme also includes a musical tribute celebrating Messi’s decorated career in world football. Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was among the prominent attendees at the event.

Heightened security after Kolkata unrest

Security in Hyderabad was significantly strengthened following chaotic scenes earlier in the day during Messi’s appearance at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium. Authorities imposed strict crowd-control measures to prevent a repeat of the unrest that forced Messi to exit the Kolkata venue ahead of schedule.

A three-tier security arrangement was deployed at the Hyderabad stadium, involving local police, paramilitary forces and specialised units. Sniffer dogs were stationed around the venue, while more than 20 bulletproof and convoy vehicles were positioned at strategic locations. Special Task Force and Intelligence Wing teams monitored the airport, stadium and nearby areas.

Officials said the enhanced security was aimed at ensuring the safety of Messi, political dignitaries and spectators, while maintaining smooth crowd management.

Tickets for the Uppal Stadium event were priced between INR 2,250 and INR 30,000. Large LED screens featuring images of Messi, Revanth Reddy and Rahul Gandhi in football jerseys were installed around the venue, attracting attention from passersby.

Kolkata chaos casts shadow over tour

Messi’s Hyderabad appearance followed unrest in Kolkata, where more than 50,000 spectators had assembled at Salt Lake Stadium. Fans grew agitated after VIPs and officials crowded the pitch, obstructing views from the stands and cutting short Messi’s appearance.

The situation escalated as bottles were hurled, chairs were damaged and fibreglass seating and temporary structures were vandalised before police intervened. The main organiser of the Kolkata event, Satadru Dutta, was later arrested amid criticism over security lapses and mismanagement.

What’s next on Messi’s India tour

After Hyderabad, Messi is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on December 14. His itinerary includes appearances at the Padel Cup at the Cricket Club of India, a celebrity football match and an event at Wankhede Stadium featuring a charity fashion show.

The ‘GOAT India Tour’ will conclude in New Delhi on December 15, where Messi is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attend a felicitation ceremony at the Arun Jaitley Stadium alongside players from the Minerva Academy.