Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, has created a nationwide sensation with his India tour. Football fans across the country are eagerly anticipating the chance to see the superstar in person, with particular focus on the Hyderabad leg of the tour. This marks Messi’s second visit to India in 14 years.
As part of the GOAT Tour — an acronym for Greatest Of All Time — Messi aims to engage sports fans and promote football in India. His itinerary includes major cities such as Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
In Hyderabad, Messi is scheduled to play a 7v7 friendly exhibition match at Uppal Stadium alongside Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The match, set to start at 7 PM, will last 20 minutes, with the final five minutes featuring both Messi and CM Revanth Reddy representing their teams.
Fans seeking personal photos with Messi will need to pay up to Rs 10 lakh per photo, according to Parvathireddy, advisor to the Hyderabad organizing committee of the GOAT Tour. Only 100 fans will have the opportunity, and over 60 have already registered. Attendance will be restricted to ticket holders for the 7:30 PM Revanth vs Messi match.
Security arrangements are extensive, with 3,000 police personnel deployed, along with 450 CCTV cameras and drones, to ensure smooth management of the event, according to Rachakonda CP Sudheer Babu.