Uppal Turns Festive as Messi Craze Sweeps Hyderabad During ‘GOAT Cup’
Hyderabad became a football festival as it hosted the anticipated ‘GOAT Cup’ during Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour of India’ at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal on Saturday. In contrast to the chaos in Kolkata, the Hyderabad event ran smoothly, turning into a joyful celebration fueled by fan enthusiasm and star presence.
The exhibition match between Singareni RR and Aparna–Messi All Stars drew huge cheers from packed stands. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy played for Singareni RR, while Lionel Messi captained the All Stars, thrilling the crowd with his touches.
Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi watched from the stands with family, highlighting the event's prominence. Before kick-off, Messi and Revanth Reddy posed for photos with both teams, setting a friendly tone.
A highlight was Messi kicking a ball into the crowd, sparking frenzy as fans scrambled for it. The Uppal event demonstrated Hyderabad's football passion and ability to host major international spectacles, with strong security and crowd management providing a seamless experience.
Live Updates
- 13 Dec 2025 7:52 PM IST
Kolkata: Argentine footballer Lionel Messi during an event as part of his 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025', at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), in Kolkata, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. -PTI
- 13 Dec 2025 7:26 PM IST
Laser lights dazzle Uppal Stadium as Hyderabad welcomes the GOAT with a stunning pre-match show.
- 13 Dec 2025 5:26 PM IST
No Cameras, Bottles or Bags: Hyderabad Police Issue Strict Advisory for Messi Event at Uppal
No Cameras, Bottles or Bags: Hyderabad Police Issue Strict Advisory for Messi Event at Uppal
The Hyderabad Police, under the Rachakonda Commissionerate, have issued a strict list of prohibited items for spectators attending Lionel Messi's "GOAT India Tour 2025" at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. These measures are designed to enhance crowd control, public safety, and ensure an orderly event, especially following disturbances at the Kolkata leg of the tour.
Prohibited Items and Restrictions:
Electronics and Recording Devices: Cameras, video recorders, laptops, selfie sticks, and all audio devices (including Bluetooth headsets, wired earphones, and AirPods) are banned. Only mobile phones are permitted for basic communication.
Contraband and Weapons: Firearms, knives, sharp objects, firecrackers, narcotics, and drugs are strictly prohibited. Violators will face immediate legal action.
Smoking and Ignition Sources: Cigarettes, lighters, and matchboxes are disallowed.
Food and Beverages: Outside food, water bottles, soft drinks, alcohol, and all other beverages are banned. Refreshments must be purchased from authorized counters inside the stadium.
Bags and Personal Items: Backpacks and handbags are not permitted. Fans are advised to travel light.
Safety and Visibility: Helmets and binoculars are prohibited due to safety and visibility concerns in crowded areas.
Animals: Pets and any other animals are disallowed.
Fans are urged to arrive early, cooperate fully with frisking and security checks, and adhere to these guidelines. Anyone attempting to enter with prohibited items will be denied admission at the checkpoints. These comprehensive security steps are in place to ensure a trouble-free experience for the near-capacity crowds expected at the high-profile event.
- 13 Dec 2025 4:44 PM IST
Straight from the airport, Lionel Messi heads to Falaknuma Palace for an exclusive meet‑and‑greet with 100 select guests.
- 13 Dec 2025 4:41 PM IST
Lionel Messi lands in Shamshabad: Argentine legend arrives in Hyderabad for GOAT Cup spectacle.
- 13 Dec 2025 3:26 PM IST
Kolkata: Smoke erupts after chairs were set on fire amid chaos during an event of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi as part of his 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025', at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), in Kolkata, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. Fans protested after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the footballer despite paying hefty sums for tickets. - PTI
Kolkata Organiser Held in Fallout of Messi Stadium ChaosSatadru Dutta, the primary organiser of the Kolkata leg of Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour 2025, has been arrested by Kolkata Police following widespread fan disorder at Salt Lake Stadium. The arrest stems from an FIR alleging cheating and event failures, after thousands of enraged spectators vandalised property and demanded refunds following Messi's brief appearance and alleged mismanagement.
Investigators are currently examining ticket sales, transparency, crowd control, and the event's overall preparedness, particularly focusing on the organisers' conduct after Messi's hasty departure. Police officials noted that the organisers vanished immediately after the footballer left, abandoning security personnel to manage the irate crowd, which severely aggravated the situation and raised serious accountability issues.
The police action comes amid significant public and political outcry. West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose strongly criticised the event as a “dark day” for Kolkata's sports enthusiasts and demanded immediate arrests, compensation, and full refunds.
Authorities have confirmed that refunds are being processed. The ongoing investigation aims to hold organisers and negligent officials accountable for both the event lapses and the resulting violence and damage.
- 13 Dec 2025 3:01 PM IST
Messi Mania in Hyderabad: CM Revanth Reddy and Rahul Gandhi Join the 'GOAT Cup' Extravaganza
Kolkata: Security personnel attempt to pacify fans of Argentine footballer Lionel Messi amid chaos during an event as part of his 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025' at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), in Kolkata, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. Fans protested after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the footballer despite paying hefty sums for tickets. - PTI
Messi Mania in Hyderabad: CM Revanth Reddy and Rahul Gandhi Join the 'GOAT Cup' Extravaganza
Football superstar Lionel Messi is set to be the main attraction at the 'GOAT Cup' in Hyderabad this Saturday night, taking place at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal. The event will be a mix of sport, politics, and celebrity, featuring Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alongside the Argentine icon.
Messi, accompanied by teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, will headline the Hyderabad stop of the 'GOAT India Tour 2025' in front of an estimated 39,000 spectators. The 70-minute programme features a friendly game, on-field interactions with political figures, and activities designed for young, aspiring footballers.
A central feature of the event is a skills display immediately after the kick-off, where Chief Minister Revanth Reddy will join Messi and his teammates. The segment will climax with a penalty shootout between the Chief Minister and Messi to determine the 'GOAT Cup' champion.
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to arrive later, with a focus on youth engagement. For approximately 15 minutes, Messi, Suárez, and De Paul will conduct a "Tiki Taka" clinic for children across the pitch, with the political leaders in attendance.
The event will conclude with a felicitation ceremony, group photo sessions, and speeches. Revanth Reddy will present Messi with a shawl and a memento before handing over the ‘GOAT Cup.’ Both political leaders are expected to depart around 9 pm.
Following security concerns during Messi's brief appearance in Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium earlier in the day, security has been ramped up in Hyderabad. Organisers have assured fans that, unlike the short Kolkata visit, Messi will remain on the field for nearly an hour to enhance the fan experience.
- 13 Dec 2025 2:08 PM IST
Breakdown of Law and Order: Fans on rampage as Messi''s Kolkata tour turns ''Messy''
Fans react as Inter Miami's Argentine forward #10 Lionel Messi departs from the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on December 13, 2025. Thousands of fans packed into a stadium in eastern India on December 13 to cheer on Lionel Messi as the football legend unveiled a 21-metre (70-foot) statue of himself. - AFP
Breakdown of Law and Order: Fans on rampage as Messi''s Kolkata tour turns ''Messy''
Kolkata: Lionel Messi's brief visit to Kolkata descended into chaos as angry fans broke security protocols after failing to catch even a glimpse of the world's most popular footballer during his blink-and-miss 22-minute appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday morning. What was meant to be a red-letter day for football fans in the City of Joy turned into a virtual nightmare, with “less of Messi” and more of what many described as a “royal mess”, as disorder prevailed inside the stadium. Moments after Messi emerged from the tunnel, the situation spiralled out of control. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who had arrived in Kolkata for the special event, along with former India captain Sourav Ganguly and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, were unable to be part of the programme as the event was cut short amid the chaos.
Such was the situation that promoter Shatadru Datta, organiser of the ‘GOAT Tour', along with security personnel, had to whisk Messi away as the Salt Lake Stadium turned into a scene of political one-upmanship, with supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress breaching security and entering the field of play. Fans, who had paid between Rs 4,500 and Rs 10,000 for tickets to watch the Argentine star, hurled bottles and damaged fibreglass seats, forcing the police to intervene as they struggled to bring the situation under control.
“Here, a glass of cold drink costs Rs 150–200, yet we couldn't even catch a glimpse of Messi. People have spent a month's salary to see him. I paid Rs 5,000 for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi not politicians. The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame. There wasn't even drinking water available,” an angry fan, Ajay Shah, told PTI
