Lionel Messi’s India tour recovered on Saturday night in Hyderabad, where the Argentina captain and his Inter Miami teammates were welcomed smoothly at the Gachibowli Stadium, a day after disorder and arrests overshadowed the opening event in Kolkata.
The first stop of the ‘Goat Tour of India’ descended into chaos at Salt Lake Stadium on Friday, where organisational failures meant large sections of the crowd were unable to see Messi properly, leading to unrest, vandalism and looting. Police detained chief organiser Shatadru Dutta amid the fallout, raising doubts over whether the remainder of the tour could proceed as planned.
Those concerns eased on Saturday as Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul flew to Hyderabad earlier in the day, arriving in the city shortly after 5.30pm before reaching the stadium around 8pm under heightened security. Unlike Kolkata, arrangements at both the airport and venue were orderly.
Messi entered the stadium while an exhibition match was under way and watched from the VVIP box alongside Suarez and De Paul, visibly animated at several moments. Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy then came onto the pitch and scored during the game. After the final whistle, Messi and his teammates were invited onto the field to loud chants of “Messi, Messi”, with Latin music playing inside the ground.
Messi joined Reddy and children for a short passing session, then sent several shots into the stands and completed a lap of honour, waving to supporters. Unlike the scenes in Kolkata, where crowds and officials clustered tightly around him, security in Hyderabad maintained clear space around the players, allowing fans an unobstructed view.
No members of the public were allowed close to Messi, with photographs taken from a set distance. After the walkaround, the players were taken to a temporary stage, where Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was invited to meet them. Gandhi presented Messi and Suarez with commemorative gifts, before Messi handed the ‘Goat Cup’ trophy to the winners of the exhibition match.
Addressing the crowd in Spanish, Messi said, “I am very happy to be in India. I am overwhelmed by your love. I will remember this affection forever. The way you have welcomed me is unimaginable.” De Paul and Suarez also spoke briefly.
After spending around an hour at the stadium, Messi and his teammates departed. The tour is scheduled to continue in Mumbai and Delhi before concluding on 15 December.
