Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Argentine football legend Lionel Messi in Hyderabad on Saturday as the star arrived for the second stop of his GOAT India Tour 2025.
The football icon presented a signed jersey to the Congress MP during a brief meeting at Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium.
Speaking to fans in the City of Nizams, Messi expressed gratitude “for the love I’ve received today and always.”
“The truth is that I’ve seen a lot of things before getting here, throughout this whole time, during the last World Cup, and honestly thank you so much for all this love. It’s an honor for us to be able to share these days here in India with you, so I’m truly grateful,” he stated.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy attended the event and, prior to Gandhi’s arrival, spent time on the field with Messi, casually exchanging kicks.
The opening leg of Messi’s GOAT tour in Kolkata, however, [descended into chaos and controversy, becoming a fleeting experience for supporters.
Approximately 50,000 attendees, many paying between ₹4,000 and ₹12,000, with some spending up to ₹20,000 on the black market, faced disappointment as politicians, VVIPs and security personnel mobbed Messi at Salt Lake Stadium.
Many seemed more focused on taking selfies than managing crowds, frustrating fans. The situation rapidly deteriorated, with irate spectators throwing bottles items prohibited at sporting venues raising concerns about security screening. Food packets were also hurled. Chairs were torn out and thrown onto the ground, leaving shattered fibreglass seats scattered across the pitch and synthetic track.
The Argentine superstar is set to visit Mumbai on Sunday, prompting city police to enforce strict security protocols. Items including water bottles, metal objects and coins will be prohibited inside stadiums, with watchtowers installed for crowd surveillance.
Read More:Messi Graffiti Unveiled in Mumbai Ahead of GOAT India Tour 2025 | VIDEO
Messi is scheduled to appear at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) for the Padel GOAT Cup event, followed by a celebrity football fixture. He is expected to arrive at Wankhede Stadium around 5 pm for the GOAT India Tour’s main event. He is also slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi subsequently.
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