HYDERABAD: The city of Hyderabad witnessed football fever at its peak as the GOAT India Tour rolled into the city. After his much-anticipated India visit began on a chaotic note in Kolkata, global football icon Lionel Messi landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport amid massive excitement and tight security.
Unlike the Kolkata leg, the event in Hyderabad ran smoothly, concluding on a high note as Messi, along with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, bid goodnight to the cheering fans before leaving the stadium.
The stadium and its vicinity turned into a roaring cauldron of song, colour and belief on a night Hyderabad came to salute football royalty. First, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy stepped onto the pitch with his team, drawing loud cheers.
A while later, Messi appeared Sporting a green colour crewneck half-sleeve T-shirt, a black pant and sport shoes. He initially watched quietly from the sidelines, smiling at the noise he had summoned without touching the ball. When he finally walked onto the field, the stadium erupted. Phones went up, voices cracked, and the stadium shook.
Messi waved, took in the scene, and soon offered flashes of the touch that has defined a generation. He was joined by Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, with Revanth alongside them, a tableau that blurred lines between sport, spectacle and dream. For the record, Revanth found the net once and Messi twice.
The legend from Argentina presented the GOAT Cup to the winning team of the 7-a-side exhibition match, Singareni RR 9, represented by Revanth.
Following the match, Messi entered the field to huge cheers. He greeted the players from both teams and exchanged passes with the Chief Minister.
Suarez and de Paul joined in, as Messi posed for photographs, waved to the crowd, played to the gallery by kicking balls into the stands, entertained fans with keepie-uppies and eventually capped the moment by scoring in a penalty shootout.
Messi also met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, with the two exchanging a handshake before posing together for a group photograph along with Suarez, de Paul and Reddy.
Messi then presented the GOAT Cup to the winners of the exhibition match.
"Thank you very much for all your love. It's an honour for us to be able to share these days here in India with you. I'm truly grateful," Messi said in Spanish, greeting the crowd, as the fans erupted into cheers.
"I'm very happy. This has been a very special night. Thank you so much for your love and care," de Paul added, while Suarez offered the crowd 'a big hug' when he took the mic.
The event wrapped up with Reddy presenting a trophy to Messi, while an Argentina jersey was presented to Rahul Gandhi.
Revanth Reddy receives Messi
Earlier, Chief Minister Reddy, along with other officials, had received Messi before he was whisked away to the royal Falaknuma Palace, where the legend is set to spend the night.
The buzz intensified further with the arrival of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who touched down in Hyderabad to meet the football maestro. He was received by the CM, and together the two leaders headed for the exclusive meet-and-greet with the GOAT.
Heightened security at Uppal stadium after Kolkata chaos
In view of the chaos that occurred at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, additional forces were deployed and security was tightened at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal on Saturday.
Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy said that as a precautionary measure, some police personnel from Telangana were sent to Kolkata. “If there are any lapses, they will inform us, and those will not be repeated here,” he said.
According to the DGP, officials informed them that the chaos in Kolkata occurred due to fewer rope parties, improper placement of security personnel and a lack of clarity over the programme. “As many as 20 rope parties have been deployed for security here,” he added.
Additional forces were also deployed to ensure that the public did not interfere with the ongoing arrangements. Over 3,000 police personnel were deployed for bandobust.
Amid Z-category security, Lionel Messi, LoP Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reached the stadium. Police provided a green channel for their movement to ensure there were no interruptions on the roads.
Senior police officials, including Rachakonda Commissioner of Police G Sudheer Babu, monitored the entire bandobust from the Command and Control Centre, issuing real-time directions to field officers through live drone surveillance.
Chaos in Kolkata
Earlier, what was meant to be a once in lifetime moment turned into a day of heartbreak for thousands of football fans who thronged the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, hoping to catch a glimpse of Argentine football legend Lionel Messi.
Messi was not clearly visible, as he was surrounded by organizers and security personnel. The expected penalty shootout did not take place, leaving fans angry and emotionally drained leading to chaotic scenes in the stadium.