Excitement is sweeping across Hyderabad as football fans eagerly await Lionel Messi’s visit to the city on December 13, part of the much-anticipated G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025. The prospect of the football legend taking to the pitch in a friendly exhibition match against a team led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has added another layer of buzz, sparking talks about what could be an enthralling sporting spectacle. 

TNIE first reported the likelihood of such a fixture, citing early suggestions from TPCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, highlighting the unusual yet intriguing prospect of a political leader going head-to-head with one of football’s greatest-ever players.

Meanwhile, Messi himself added to the excitement with an Instagram post, thanking Indian fans for their warm welcome and confirming Hyderabad as one of the cities on his tour, alongside Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. “Thanks for all the love from India! The GOAT tour kicks off in a few weeks! I’m happy to share that Hyderabad has been added to my visits… See you soon, India,” he wrote, setting social media alight with anticipation.

Responding to Messi’s announcement, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy took to X to express his delight at the football star’s visit, stating that Hyderabad was ready to host him with warmth and pride. Sources close to the chief minister revealed that he has quietly been dedicating around 45 minutes each day to practice football drills, working on touch, pace and basic manoeuvres, in preparation for any potential kick-off.

The Telangana Rising Global Summit has also fanned the flames of excitement, teasing a potential “Messi10 vs RR9” showdown as part of the summit’s grand finale. Officials confirmed that the summit itself, concluding just before the proposed match, has become closely linked with the buzz surrounding Messi’s visit.

Across Hyderabad and Telangana, fans have already slipped into a match-day mindset, with local clubs, sports enthusiasts and organisers making arrangements for what could be a historic event. Whether the exhibition match ultimately materialises or remains a hopeful prospect, the city’s excitement has already surged well beyond the halfway line. (With inputs from Agencies)