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Lionel Messi will meet fans in Mumbai and New Delhi on Sunday.
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Lionel Messi delighted fans at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The Argentine superstar was joined by Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, and the trio also met Rahul Gandhi during the event.
Messi watched an exhibition match from the sidelines and later engaged in short rondos with children, showcasing his skills and entertaining the crowd. Unlike the chaotic scenes in Kolkata, the Hyderabad event remained peaceful and well-organized.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy were present.
VIDEO | Hyderabad: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) felicitates Argentine football icon Lionel Messi at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025
(Source: Third Party)#MessiInIndia #Hyderabad #Telangana pic.twitter.com/kM235nSG1L
CRAZY VISUALS FORM HYDERABAD, Messi is huge!!!pic.twitter.com/qj6CyWwWvi
— Barça Worldwide (@BarcaWorldwide) December 13, 2025Messi Has Arrived in Hyderabad🔥🔥#GOATIndiaTour #Messi pic.twitter.com/6aPp7mkAKn
— HANK (@lokeshreddy_000) December 13, 2025Who’s joining in from Hyderabad? pic.twitter.com/BBN6xxscRb
— We Are Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) December 13, 2025
The kick-off ceremony at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has begun, and it starts with a music performance!
The kick-off ceremony at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has begun, and it starts with a music performance!
West Bengal Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari wrote to Governor CV Ananda Bose requesting him to order the constitution of a "truly independent enquiry committee, headed by a sitting Judge of the Calcutta High Court, assisted by persons of unimpeachable integrity who have no institutional, administrative, or political affiliation with the State Government."
Star footballer Lionel Messi has arrived in Hyderabad. He is in India for his G.O.A.T India Tour 2025.
The kick-off for the exhibition match will take place at 7:50 p.m. at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Messi and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will driblle the ball together, followed by a penalty shootout. Then, Rahul Gandhi will also join the group.
After 8:00 p.m., Messi, Luis Suarez and De Paul will engage wih children. There will also be a parade walk, followed by felicitation and it will end at 9 p.m.
Mumbai Police has issued a traffic advisory for December 14, warning of large crowds and heavy vehicular movement between 12 p.m and 11:00 p.m in South Mumbai due to the Messi event, as per an NDTV report.
Parking will not be allowed at Wankhede and Brabourne Stadiums, and commuters are advised to use public transport such as local trains and metro.
Read full story here:
The All India Football Federation said Lionel Messi’s 'GOAT India Tour' in Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium got off to a chaotic start was organised by a PR agency and the body had no involvement.
The All India Football Federation is deeply concerned by the events that transpired at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, where thousands of fans gathered to witness world football stars Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo de Paul.
This was a private event organised by a PR agency. The AIFF was not involved in the organisation, planning, or execution of this event in any capacity.
Furthermore, the details of the event were neither communicated to the AIFF, nor was any clearance sought from the Federation.
We urge all attendees to extend their full cooperation with the relevant authorities and to maintain order. The safety and security of all individuals involved must remain the paramount priority.
Lionel Messi's Kolkata leg of the G.O.A.T. Tour event left thousands angry on Saturday.
— NDTV Profit (@NDTVProfitIndia) December 13, 2025
The reason: they could not get a glimpse of the Argentine football great pic.twitter.com/uYljezMtUh
Lionel Messi is set to visit Hyderabad later today to play an exhibition match with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The Hyderabad programme features a short exhibition match, a football clinic for children and a felicitation ceremony.
The West Bengal Police said the organiser of the Lionel Messi India Tour 2025 in Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium have to refund ticket prices to disappointed spectators.
Angry fans accused politicians of hogging Messi's time and failing to deliver on promises.
"Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn't see anything. He didn't take a single kick or a single penalty. They said they would bring Shah Rukh Khan too. They didn't bring anyone. He came for 10 minutes and left. So much money, emotions, and time wasted. We couldn't see anything," said one fan.
(Source: ANI)
Kolkata Messi Mania Turns Chaotic: Fans Storm Stadium, Chairs Vandalised
— NDTV (@ndtv) December 13, 2025
NDTV's @SreyashiDey reports pic.twitter.com/Q8A72IMqfX
Both ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP lashed out at the organisers of an event of Lionel Messi in Salt Lake stadium on Saturday, which ended in chaos as irate spectators went on a vandalisation spree for not having a proper view of the football icon.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said in a statement that the 'overzealousness' of the organisers and people close to them to crowd Messi and take selfies with him prevented the spectators from the gallery, who shelled out hefty amounts for the event, from having a proper view of the football star, and it infuriated them.
Union minister and senior BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar slammed the TMC and the state administration for the chaos.
SHAME ON YOU, Mamata Banerjee !
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) December 13, 2025
The "Khela Hobe" Circus Turns into a TMC Loot-Fest at Yuva Bharati !
What a pathetic spectacle in Kolkata today ! Our football-crazed Bengali Fans, dreaming of a glimpse of the GOAT Lionel Messi, shelled out thousands for tickets, only to be… pic.twitter.com/o6MSpTrWyu
Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Jawed Shamim comments on chaos at Messi's Kolkata event.
"Peace has to be restored immediately. That has been taken care of. Traffic is normal. People have all gone back home. The incident has been localised and limited to Salt Lake Stadium. It's a big incident. We are on the job and will ensure that whoever is responsible for this thing that has happened today at Salt Lake Stadium will be punished and all kinds of action will be taken against the concerned authorities."
West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said the police have already arrested the main organiser of the event Satadru Dutta. "We are taking action to ensure this mismanagement does not go unpunished."
"There was some kind of anger or anxiety in the fans saying that he's not playing. The plan was that he would come here, wave, meet certain people and leave. Now the government has already constituted a committee that will look into all aspects, including whether there was any mismanagement on the organiser's side or anything else. The organiser is giving in writing to those who are concerned that the tickets which have been sold should be refunded. Now the situation is under control... We have already detained the organiser," he said.
Lionel Messi is now heading to Hyderabad, where he will take part in an exhibition match and appear on the field for five minutes. The football icon is also set to attend a musical concert during the visit. The exhibition match will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
Mamata Banerjee had almost reached the venue.
Event schedule was altered.
Sports minister Aroop Biswas in the stadium. Senior police officials and bureaucrats also present. Closed door meeting on.
Mamata Banerjee has taken all the updates, enquiry committee formed.
Source: NDTV
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has termed the chaos at Salt Lake Stadium a “huge disgrace,” saying it will remain etched in history.
Holding the state government responsible, Malviya demanded the immediate resignation of West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, accusing him of playing with public emotions and putting people at serious risk.
Such a huge disgrace in the heart of Kolkata will remain etched in the pages of history forever!
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 13, 2025
Purely for political reasons, an internationally renowned player like Lionel Messi was brought to Kolkata after the installation of a bizarre 70-foot statue of him. People were then… pic.twitter.com/pVHOYDtGns
Lionel Messi's much-hyped Kolkata leg of the G.O.A.T. Tour on Saturday turned out to be a chaotic experience for the thousands who came to watch the superstar at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan.
NDTV's Rittick Mondal reports.
"Disgrace": Messi's Blink And Miss Kolkata Event Angers Fans, Chairs Thrownhttps://t.co/MRQt5tIicY @RittickMondal reports pic.twitter.com/0hCBZA67Ck
— NDTV (@ndtv) December 13, 2025
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed deep shock over the mismanagement witnessed at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s event. In a statement, she said she was on her way to the stadium along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of the football icon.
I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 13, 2025
I…
In the videos circulating on the internet, Shah Rukh is seen greeting Lionel on his Kolkata visit. Shah Rukh's youngest son, AbRam Khan, who accompanied the actor, was also seen clicking pictures with the footballer.
VIDEO | Kolkata: Football icon Lionel Messi to virtually unveil his 70-foot statue from Salt Lake stadium, with West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan present at the event.#LionelMessi #Kolkata #Football
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025
(Full VIDEO available on PTI Videos –… pic.twitter.com/dqISIwMgl4
"Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. We couldn't see anything.," said fans to ANI.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi says, "Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn't see anything. He didn't take a single kick or a single penalty. They said they would bring… https://t.co/Ce4kNu8dBH pic.twitter.com/Rpko4UwlLW
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
Messi will leave for Hyderabad as part of the G.O.A.T India Tour 2025.
#WATCH | Lionel Messi arrives at Kolkata airport. He will leave for Hyderabad as part of the G.O.A.T India Tour 2025 pic.twitter.com/FWKdhfbh6m
— NDTV (@ndtv) December 13, 2025
Lionel Messi’s first event in India reportedly ended in chaos, with the football star leaving the stadium within just 10 minutes of his arrival. The early exit sparked anger among fans, who threw bottles after Messi departed and broke barricades at the venue. The unrest was intensified by the fact that the minimum ticket price for the event was Rs 4,000.
#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Angry fans threw bottles and chairs from the stands at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
Star footballer Lionel Messi has left the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/mcxi6YROyr
The main public event will take place at Hyderabad's Uppal Stadium from 7 pm, featuring a 7-a-side exhibition match, where Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is expected to face off with Messi. Rahul Gandhi has also been invited to watch the match.
In addition, a football clinic is planned, during which Messi is expected to demonstrate his skills to underprivileged talent.
Lionel Messi is set to arrive in Hyderabad at 4 pm via a special chartered flight from Kolkata as part of his India Tour. An exclusive meet-and-greet is scheduled at Taj Falaknuma, with a photo opportunity reportedly costing up to Rs 10 lakh.
Source: NDTV
Messi has arrived at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, where a friendly match and a felicitation ceremony will be organised in his honour.
#WATCH | West Bengal: Star footballer Lionel Messi arrives at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025
A friendly match and a felicitation ceremony will be organised here.
(Video Source: DD Sports) pic.twitter.com/qEDk3cKH9U
West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan present at the inauguration event with the football legend.
VIDEO | Kolkata: Football icon Lionel Messi to virtually unveil his 70-foot statue from Salt Lake stadium, with West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan present at the event.#LionelMessi #Kolkata #Football
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025
(Full VIDEO available on PTI Videos –… pic.twitter.com/dqISIwMgl4
Lionel Messi virtually inaugurates the 70-foot statue in the Lake Town area of Kolkata.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will attend the GOAT India Tour event featuring football legend Lionel Messi at the RGI Cricket Stadium on Saturday evening, Telangana Congress sources said.
A 70-foot statue of Lionel Messi has been built in the Lake Town area of Kolkata. Messi will virtually unveil the statue from Salt Lake Stadium.
Yes, Lionel Messi is on his second visit to India. He previously visited the country in 2011, when he played in Kolkata during a friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela.
Lionel Messi is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi when he visits the city on December 15.
The tour kicks off on December 13 in Kolkata and concludes on December 15 in New Delhi. Later on December 13, Messi will visit Hyderabad, followed by a stop in Mumbai on December 14.
Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of Messi's India visit!
Lionel Messi has arrived in India to begin his GOAT India Tour 2025, with the Argentine superstar landing at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata at 1:30 am on December 13, 2025.
Stay tuned for all updates.
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