&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Lionel Messi meets Rahul Gandhi, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad during India GOAT Tour")
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Argentine football icon Lionel Messi in Hyderabad on Saturday (Dec 13) during the second leg of Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025. Messi also presented Gandhi with a signed jersey and the two shared small interaction at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Addressing fans, Messi thanked everyone "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 said, as quoted by India Today.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy was also at the venue and was seen spending some time with Messi on the field, lightly kicking the football together before Rahul Gandhi arrived.
What went wrong at the event in Kolkata
Lionel Messi reached Salt Lake Stadium along with his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez. State sports officials, event organisers and police were also present. Trouble started when Messi walked around the field to greet fans. The crowd pushed forward, making it hard for police to maintain the perimeter.
A planned training session with children from across West Bengal was also cancelled as the number of people on the field kept rising. Due to safety concerns, Messi left the stadium earlier than scheduled.
After his exit, angry fans broke into the ground and threw water bottles, damaged seats and tore posters. Many spectators were upset as some had paid up to INR 20,000 for tickets.
What next for Messi on India GOAT Tour
Trending Stories
)
Plastic clouds found hovering over two major Chinese cities shock scientists
)
Lavrov claims Greenland is not a natural part of Norway or Denmark
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Jackie Kennedy, Princess Diana, Anne Hathaway: Iconic women dressed by Valentino
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Before Greenland, there was the Suez Crisis: What happened when US turned against Europe?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Who would win? Comparing the air power of the Israel and Iran in case of a war
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From B2 Bombers to Tomahawks: How the US could hit Iran next
)
Marriyum Aurangzeb's transformation goes viral; netizens defend Pak minister amid plastic surgery speculation
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Rare earths and Arctic security: How is China involved in Greenland’s Kvanefjeld project?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Trump shares new American map including Canada and Greenland as its part; Meloni, Macron watch
)
‘Snow apocalypse’: Record snowfall buries buildings, towns in Russia’s Kamchatka – WATCH
)
Russia’s ‘snow apocalypse’ takes over social media: Locals jump out of windows, dig out building entrances | WATCH
The GOAT tour will move to Mumbai on Sunday (Dec 14), where Messi will again play a charity match and later participate in a fashion event, which will also see him team up with Luis Suarez. The last day of the tour will be in New Delhi as the Argentine will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (Dec 15) before concluding his tour at an event in New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.
