Messi’s GOAT Tour 2025: Hyderabad Welcomes the Football Legend

Lionel Messi’s highly awaited ‘GOAT Tour to India 2025’ continues to grow in excitement, as Hyderabad has been added as a new stop in the tour. This addition comes after the unfortunate cancellation of a friendly match that was supposed to take place in Kerala. The aim of adding Hyderabad is to ensure that fans in the southern part of India can have their chance to meet their idol, Messi.

A spokesperson for the tour, Satadru Dutta, the sole organiser, announced this decision, confirming that the tour would now cover all corners of India. With stops in Kolkata (East), Hyderabad (South), Mumbai (West), and New Delhi (North), this has turned into one of the biggest sports events ever to be held in the nation. Dutta expressed that with this addition, fans in South India would no longer feel deprived of experiencing Messi’s magic.

The excitement surrounding Messi’s visit is palpable. Dutta stated, “South India has a massive fan base for Messi, especially in cities like Chennai, Kerala, and now Hyderabad.” He emphasized the importance of making this event a pan-Indian celebration, ensuring that every region has an opportunity to witness this legendary footballer’s talent. According to him, Hyderabad was chosen as it provides easy access for fans from nearby areas to join in this historic moment.

The event’s arrangements have been confirmed for either the Gachibowli Stadium or the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Booking for the Hyderabad leg is expected to go live within a week, and the anticipation is building rapidly. Dutta mentioned that this leg of the tour would not merely be another stop; it would be an extravagant celebration—an extension of the GOAT Cup. It promises a celebrity football match, a football clinic, a musical programme, and the presence of stars from various fields.

Dutta revealed that they have already engaged in preliminary talks with local organizers in Hyderabad, and the enthusiasm from them has been overwhelming. “They are eager to make this event a grand affair,” he shared. This collaboration is a great stride towards making the event a memorable experience for fans in the region.

In terms of the tour’s timeline, Messi is scheduled to land around midnight on December 12 or early morning on December 13. His journey will begin in Miami, proceed to Dubai for a short rest, and then he will arrive in Kolkata before heading to Hyderabad the same day. The excitement for this visit is unprecedented, especially since Messi last played in India back in 2011. He will be joined by his long-time teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, both of whom have confirmed their participation.

The GOAT Tour features an array of activities including celebrity football matches, musical events, meet-and-greet sessions, and masterclasses for young fans. Messi’s journey will start in Kolkata on December 13, continue to Hyderabad on the same day, then move on to Mumbai on December 14, and conclude in New Delhi on December 15, where he will have a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The cancellation of the Kerala match sparked public disappointment and concern. However, Dutta was determined to ensure that football fans in the southern states do not miss out on the chance to see Messi. He stated, “This move is essential to keep the fans in southern cities, especially in Kerala and Chennai, happy.” He believes that Hyderabad, being centrally located with a vast fan base, was the perfect choice for this new leg of the tour.

Ticket sales for the GOAT Tour have shown overwhelming enthusiasm, with venues quickly filling up. In Mumbai, Wankhede Stadium’s 28,000 tickets were sold out almost immediately, while Kolkata’s massive stadium is nearing full capacity. New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium is also witnessing a similar trend with tickets running out swiftly.

As the event date approaches, fans eagerly await what promises to be a momentous occasion in Indian sports history. The energy in Hyderabad is set to be electric, and with various Southern stars joining in, it’s bound to be one of the most unforgettable segments of Messi’s tour.

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Original Text – https://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/football/messi-tour-goes-pan-india-hyderabad-added-after-kerala-cancellation-1914162