Lionel Messi Arrives in Hyderabad for His G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 Exhibition Match

Football legend Lionel Messi arrived in Hyderabad on December 13, 2025, for the second leg of his highly anticipated G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025, receiving a warm welcome amid massive fan excitement. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is scheduled to participate in a special exhibition event at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, featuring a symbolic kick-off alongside Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

The programme includes a joint dribbling session between Messi and Reddy, followed by a penalty shootout and a short 7v7 exhibition match between Singareni RR9 (led by Reddy in jersey number 9) and Aparna-Messi All Stars (with Messi in his iconic number 10). The main activities are set to begin around 7:50 p.m., promising light-hearted football moments and fan interactions.

Messi's Hyderabad visit follows a chaotic Kolkata stop earlier the same day, where mismanagement led to fan unrest and an early departure. Organisers and authorities have heightened measures here to ensure smooth proceedings, with tight security and structured VIP protocols.

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Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi is also attending the event, adding political prominence to the sporting spectacle. The tour, Messi's first multi-city India trip since 2011, blends football clinics, celebrity engagements, and cultural elements across Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

Fans gathered in large numbers outside the stadium and hotel, hoping for glimpses of the Inter Miami star. The evening promises inspiration for young players through Messi's presence and interactions.

As the tour continues, heightened anticipation surrounds upcoming legs in Mumbai and Delhi, underscoring Messi's enduring global appeal and football's growing footprint in India.

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