Hyderabad corrects Calcutta’s mistakes as fans immerse themselves in Messi mania

After the chaos in Kolkata on Saturday morning, Hyderabad braced itself for a football extravaganza with cautious expectations. Fans, organizers and stakeholders alike waited nervously at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, unsure whether the ripple effects of the City of Joy’s disruptions would follow them south.

But as the evening wore on, it became clear that lessons had been learned: meticulous planning, fast execution and a line-up of world stars – Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul – turned a chilly evening into an electrifying celebration of sport and spectacle.

Messi arrived in the city amid much fanfare and made his way to Falaknuma Palace. While participating in a meet-and-greet at the once princely residence of the Nizams, singers Rahul Sipligunj, famous for the Oscar-winning ‘naatu naatu’ song, and Satyavathi Rathod entertained the half-full stands in Uppal.

Cultural festivities soon gave way to a 7v7 football match between Messi All Stars and Singareni RR9. Fans were on their feet as early as the fourth minute after the latter had taken the lead, not to celebrate the breakthrough, but in response to Messi’s arrival.

With Suarez and De Paul by his side, the magician, who looked both excited and curious, took in the action from the sidelines, while Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also joined the fray, dressed in the colors of his favorite club, Arsenal, and even found the back of the net once.

Messi, Suarez and De Paul then mesmerized the fans with some quick dribbles and a handful of passes, giving the already star-struck faithful an adrenaline boost.

The stands, who regularly witness the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head sending the ball across the various tiers of the IPL, immediately embraced the much bigger projectiles coming their way, with Messi and De Paul kicking a few footballs into the crowd.

A penalty shootout followed, but Messi skipped it and cheered from the sidelines. As many as 17 children then had the opportunity to have a kickabout with the Inter Miami trio as part of the football clinics. The presentation of the GOAT Cup trophy concluded the proceedings.

If deviating from well-laid plans caused pandemonium in the morning, the opposite was the case as the clock ticked past 9 p.m., with Messi gracefully deciding to say a few words, albeit in Spanish.

“Thank you for the love and affection I have received in this country today, and for your participation tonight,” he said, as fans roared with delight.

Published on December 13, 2025