New Delhi: Lionel Messi arrived in Hyderabad on Saturday for the second leg of his GOAT tour of India, following his short stay in Kolkata. The legendary footballer received a roaring reception from the crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, where he played football with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, before meeting some young footballers.
Messi’s much-anticipated tour of India didn’t start on a great note, as his team was forced to cancel his event in Kolkata owing to poor crowd management and security issues. Messi’s early departure from the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata led to massive chaos at the venue. However, the Argentine superstar appeared in good spirits as he arrived at the Uppal Stadium in Hyderabad in the evening.
Messi arrived at the venue in Hyderabad alongwith his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrygo de Paul. The trio were welcomed by the organisers and the dignitaries present at the venue before hitting the pitch. Messi enjoyed a game of football with Telangana CM Reddy, who is also a former footballer. Suarez and De Paul also joined in.
Messi also met young footballers from the two teams, who were involved in a friendly exhibition match at the venue before his arrival on the ground. He shook hands with each one of them and also posed for photographs with the players from both teams. Suarez and De Paul also met the young footballers and shook hands with them before posing for pictures with the teams.
Watch Lionel Messi plays football with Telangana CM:
VIDEO | Hyderabad: Argentine football icon Lionel Messi graces the field at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium and plays football with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy.
(Source: Third Party)#MessiInIndia #Hyderabad #Telangana pic.twitter.com/O4DZ0OcIhC
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025
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