Argentina’s World Cup winning captain is all set to bring his magic to Hyderabad next month as part of the much talked about ‘GOAT Tour to India 2025’. The confirmation came after the organizers of Messi’s India tour met Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at his Jubilee Hills residence earlier this week. During the meeting, the CM unveiled an official poster and was presented with a football signed by Messi’s team – a symbolic kick-off for what promises to be a spectacular event.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy broke the news through a post on X (formerly Twitter) where he shared a picture of himself holding an official poster. Its caption read: “Telangana welcomes Lionel Messi! The GOAT will arrive in Hyderabad this December as part of the ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ vision.”
Messi’s visit is closely linked to Telangana’s ambitious initiative ‘Telangana Rising 2047’, which aims to put the state on the global map as a hub for innovation, investment and sports. The government is expected to officially invite Messi to become a global ambassador for the campaign – a move that could boost the country’s international visibility. Officials believe the football icon’s influence could help attract global partnerships while also inspiring Telangana’s young sportspersons to dream bigger.
Hyderabad was not originally on the tour list. The city intervened after Argentina’s proposed friendly match in Kochi was called off, ensuring southern fans were not left disappointed. With this addition, Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour’ will now cover all corners of the country – Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi – making it a nationwide football carnival.
The excitement in Hyderabad is already electric. Local football academies are planning friendly matches, fan marches and spectator events to celebrate Messi’s arrival. Security teams are also preparing for massive crowds as the city prepares to host the football icon.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
November 11, 2025
