Hyderabad: Football icon Lionel Messi confirmed Hyderabad as the fourth city on his highly anticipated GOAT Tour of India, joining Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi from December 13 to 15.

Messi announced via Instagram on Thursday that the Indian tour, which marks his return to the country after 14 years, will now include Hyderabad alongside the other three metropolitan stops. The Argentine star wrote, “Thanks for all the love from India! The GOAT tour kicks off in a few weeks’ time!!! I’m happy to share that Hyderabad has been added to my visits to Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. See you soon, India!”

The tour will start on December 13 in Kolkata, followed by a December 13 evening visit to Hyderabad, where events will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, at 7 p.m. Messi will then travel to Mumbai on December 14 and conclude in Delhi on December 15 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Each city event includes a 7v7 exhibition match, football clinics, musical concerts, and felicitation ceremonies. The Hyderabad addition came after a proposed friendly match in Kochi was cancelled. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy publicly unveiled the Hyderabad event poster earlier this month.

Tickets for the Hyderabad leg went live on Friday, November 28, through the official platform District. Messi will be accompanied throughout the tour by his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.

Tour organiser Satadru Dutta highlighted Hyderabad’s inclusion as a nod to South India's passionate football fans, underscoring the tour’s broad national appeal.