Thanks to careful planning, discipline, and preparation, the second leg of the GOAT India Tour concluded on a high note, with Lionel Messi’s program in Hyderabad standing in sharp contrast to the chaos in Kolkata.
After Messi’s visit to the City of Joy deteriorated into pandemonium earlier on Saturday due to inadequate crowd control and security failings, the City of Nizams demonstrated how to conduct an event of this size.
At a virtually full Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the renowned Argentine football player enthralled the fans by showcasing some of the abilities that made him one of the best players in history.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy welcomed Messi at the Taj Falaknuma Palace when he arrived in the city at approximately 5:40 p.m. following a tumultuous first leg of his three-day, four-city GOAT Tour 2025 in Kolkata.
To thunderous applause of fans, the World Cup-winning Argentine captain entered the stadium wearing a green crew neck half-sleeve T-shirt, black pants, and sports shoes.
In contrast to his tense and rigid manner at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata a few hours earlier, he appeared at ease during his hour-long stay at the stadium.
“I am very happy to be in Hyderabad in the midst of all the love and affection shown by you all,” Messi said through a translator while addressing the crowd.
Before departing the stadium, Messi offered football clinics with kids and participated in a GOAT Cup penalty shootout with his Inter Miami teammates Luiz Saurez and Rodrigo de Paul. Reddy also showed up wearing football gear.
Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi posed for pictures in front of the sponsorship hoardings as he joined Reddy and the visiting trio of players after the event’s conclusion.
Singareni RR 9, who were playing for Reddy, won a 7-a-side exhibition match, and Messi gave them the GOAT Cup. Gandhi handed Saurez a souvenir, and the CM gave one to Messi.
After arriving at the stadium, Messi was observed examining the pictures on the walls, chatting with the officials, and acknowledging the admiration of the crowd by waving from behind a glass barrier.
Later, to the immense surprise of fans, he demonstrated his flawless ball control by juggling the ball with his feet while kicking around it with Reddy, Saurez, and de Paul.
Messi waved to the crowd as he walked around the stadium.
