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Hyderabad dropped a memorable spectacle on Saturday night as Lionel Messi lit up the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, giving fans a premium experience in contrast to chaos that erupted in the first leg of his GOAT Tour earlier in Kolkata.
Chaos in Kolkata
Messi landed in Kolkata, accompanied by his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, in the wee hours of Saturday, and thousands passionately turned up at the airport to welcome him.
Expectant fans gathered at the Salt Lake Stadium to have a glimpse of the football icon, but it turned into chaos as they struggled to see Messi's face during his short 20-min appearance, leaving them unhappy.
Expressing their frustration at how the event finished, angry fans resorted to ripping up seats and throwing debris onto the pitch. Lionel Messi, meanwhile, headed to Hyderabad for the second leg of his day 1 GOAT Tour of India to play a 7v7 exhibition with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
Reddy exchanged a few passes with the Inter Miami skipper during the event. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was also present, took photographs with Messi.
As the event in Hyderabad drew a close, Messi took the microphone and addressed the crowd, saying:
“Thank you very much for all your affection. It's an honour for us to be able to spend these days here in India with you, so I'm truly grateful. Thank you so much.”
De Paul and Suarez also expressed gratitude towards the crowd. The former Atletico Madrid midfielder said:
“I've enjoyed a lot. This has been a very special night. Thank you so much for your love and affection.”
Suarez then added:
“Good evening, everyone. Thank you for the love. A big hug!”
Lionel Messi will visit four major metro cities during his 2025 GOAT Tour of India.
Lionel Messi's next stop of GOAT Tour
As per ANI, Lionel Messi has reached Mumbai for the third venue of the GOAT Tour as he continues his visit to the country. Reports said that after the chaos in Kolkata, the Mumbai Police is not leaving any space for concerns and has put strict security protocols in the city for the Argentine legend.
Over 2,000 police personnel are deployed across the Brabourne (CCI) and Wankhete Stadiums, with Barricades Watchtowers, and public announcement systems in place to manage the high-profile event.
News agency ANI also revealed Messi's location in a video, saying he arrived at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai. As part of his Mumbai visit, under-14 footballers from all over Maharashtra, selected by the sports department, will have the unique chance to practice with Messi on Sunday.
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