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 11:48 AM IST
Football legend Lionel Messi will visit Hyderabad on Saturday, December 13, as part of the ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’, with a packed schedule of events planned at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal in Hyderabad on Saturday. Read more: Messi Hyderabad Itinerary
- 13 Dec 2025 11:45 AM IST
Football icon Lionel Messi virtually unveiled a 70-foot-tall statue of himself at the Sreebhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town in Kolkata, on Saturday, marking the first leg of his much-anticipated GOAT Tour India 2025.
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Messi happy with 70-foot statue: West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose
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- 13 Dec 2025 11:43 AM IST
Fans in Kolkata expressed excitement about football legend Lionel Messi's arrival in the city.Messi arrived in Kolkata early in the morning on Saturday for the much-anticipated GOAT Tour 2025. "We recently got married, but on Messi's visit, we cancelled our honeymoon plan because first we wanted to see Messi... We are very excited to see him, and we have been following him for 10-12 years," said Karan, a Messi fan
