The hype around Lionel Messi's GOAT India tour was astronomical. After all, the football legend was visiting the country for the first time in 14 years. As per schedule, his trip kicked-off in Kolkata on Saturday (December 13) but it not only turned out to be an anti-climax but also ended in disaster.
CM revanth reddy asking the man to step aside so that crowd can have a clear view of Lionel messi. Every state deserves a CM like him. He isn’t taking the spotlight himself#MessiIndia #MessiInHyderabad pic.twitter.com/iiA0AyRRlv
— The last dance (@26lastdance) December 13, 2025
Meanwhile, a video from the Hyderabad event featuring. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has gone viral on the internet. Like the Kolkata event, the Hyderabad leg also had Messi pose for the press while also ensuring that the paying public got a view of him. The video shows Reddy controlling the politicians by telling them to make space for the audience at the ground.
Reddy's actions set the tone and the Hyderabad event was completed as planned without any bloopers. Importantly, the organizers are doing their job seamlessly and a majority of the local politicians are not taking their power for granted, which was the case earlier in the day at Kolkata.
Messi was supposed to be at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata for a period of two hours before signing off from the city to the next destination Hyderabad. However, inefficient disciplinary measures from the local security and irresponsible behaviour from the organizers-local politicians brought a hasty end to Messi's stay at the stadium.
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Ultimately, the thousands of fans who had come to the ground by paying exorbitant prices for tickets were forced to leave without seeing Messi from close quarters. The Argentine wizard was slated to do a lap of honour around the ground towards the end of his stay at the venue but understandably, all that had to be done away with. Messi was quickly escorted away amidst the mayhem even as fans went bonkers.