Thank you for joining us on the live coverage of Day 1 of Lionel Messi's G.O.A.T. Tour of India 2025. A day of two halves - utter chaos in Kolkata, and then a night to remember in Hyderabad.

Join us tomorrow on NDTV Sports, as we bring you coverage of Day 2. Messi will step foot in Mumbai, where he is expected to meet a number of sporting and Bollywood icons. Until then, goodnight!

"Well, nothing but to extend my thanks for the love I've received today and always. Thank you very much for all your affection. It's an honour for us to be able to share these days here in India with you, so I'm truly grateful. Thank you so much," said Messi.

The event at Hyderabad comes to an end as Messi is presented a trophy by Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, while an Argentina jersey is presented to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The players then walk off, smiles on their faces.

This has been an hour to remember for Hyderabad.

Lionel Messi: "Thank you very much for all your affection". He thanks the crowd, which erupts into huge cheers.
Rodrigo de Paul: "I have enjoyed a lot. This has been a very special night. Thank you so much for your love and affection."

Luis Suarez: "Good evening everyone. Thank you for the love. A big hug!"

"Messi, welcome to Telangana! Now Telangana is rising. Come join the rise," says Revanth Reddy, before handing the mic to Messi. The Argentine football legend will now address the crowd.

And now, Messi meets Congress minister Rahul Gandhi as well. The duo shake hands. Messi, Suarez, de Paul, Rahul Gandhi and Revanth Reddy take a photo together. He then presents the GOAT Cup to the teams!

Once again, Messi, Suarez, de Paul and Revanth Reddy have gathered in a circle with some of the younger players, and they are having a session of one-touch football. These are great scenes, and the crowd have really got to witness their footballing heroes for a fairly long time today evening.

Lionel Messi is taking a lap around the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, along with Suarez, de Paul and Revanth Reddy. De Paul delights the crowd by shooting another ball to the fans. Messi waves as the crowd continue to go berserk.

They have also had a fun football kickabout with some young boys. A moment to savour for the children, who are getting to play one-touch football with Messi, Suarez and de Paul!

A penalty shootout has started between the two teams of the exhibition match, with Messi in attendance alongside Suarez, de Paul and Revanth Reddy. Revanth Reddy also takes a penalty... and he scores!

Lionel Messi has just made the night of a few fans in Hyderabad. He shoots a few balls to the crowd, and surely the fans who caught it now have the memorabilia of a lifetime. Huge cheers continue.

VIDEO | Hyderabad: Argentine football icon Lionel Messi entertains fans at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, playfully kicking the ball to the crowd gathered in the stadium.
(Source: Third Party)#MessiInIndia #Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/AE5kd5YWhw

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025

Lionel Messi has come on to the pitch! A huge, huge roar from the crowd. Messi shakes hands with the players of the exhibition match, and is now playing a few passes along with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy! Messi also effortlessly shoots a ball into the goal!

Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez are also joining in on the fun. The football superstars appear to be having a great time.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy scores a goal! He makes it 4-0 for RR9 against Aparna All Stars. 20 minutes have been completed in the exhibition football match.

Congress minister Rahul Gandhi has moved up to stage at one corner of the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Messi, Suarez and de Paul are still outside, and should enter soon.

Meanwhile, RR9 are leading 3-0 against Aparna All Stars. And now it looks like Telangana CM Revanth Reddy will play!

Lionel Messi is in the VIP area, and fans have already gotten a glimpse of the Argentine legend, who is all smiles at the moment. Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul are alongside him. The exhibition match is about to conclude, after which Messi is expected to take centre stage with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy.

Lionel Messi is here! The 38-year-old is escorted inside, along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. Messi can be seen smiling, as he clicks a couple of pictures with some dignitaries. The fans have already erupted into a massive cheer upon getting the news that Messi has arrived.

VIDEO | Argentine football icon Lionel Messi arrives at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad.
(Source: Third Party)#MessiInIndia #Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/8ELecSPe9F

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025

Leader of Opposition of the Lok Sabha, Congress minister Rahul Gandhi, has reached the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, alongside Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. Meanwhile, an exhibition football match is beginning!

The two teams are RR9 and Aparna All Stars.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad is packed to the brim. Tens of thousands of fans are awaiting the arrival of Lionel Messi. The mood is positive, with song and dance continuing. Meanwhile, Messi is on the way to the stadium, as per reports.

Remember, a 7v7 exhibition match is set to take place. However, it is unclear whether Messi himself will play.

#WATCH | Telangana | Star Footballer Lionel Messi leaves from the Taj Falaknuma Palace after meeting Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Hyderabad. pic.twitter.com/xPYMyizW0N

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

Lionel Messi has met Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, song and dance have begun at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium ahead of Messi's arrival there.

VIDEO | Hyderabad: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy (@revanth_anumula) welcomes Argentine footballer Lionel Messi at Falaknuma Palace.
(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/3kLQKnhoWT

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025

Graffiti of Argentina football icon Lionel Messi was unveiled on a building ahead of the legend's visit to Mumbai as a part of his GOAT India Tour 2025. The football legend, after the visits to Kolkata and Hyderabad, is set to go to Mumbai on Sunday. Delhi will be the last stop of Messi's tour on Monday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will also be present at the event of Lionel Messi in Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. The football icon is expected to reach the venue by 7:45 PM IST.

Hello, Hyderabad! Football icon Lionel Messi has arrived in your city. He landed there at 5 PM IST. Messi is currently at Taj Falaknuma Palace for a meet and greet with the fans who paid a whopping amount of Rs 10 lakh.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu shares details of preperations made ahead of Messi's visit. He assures what has happened in Kolkata will not happen here @umasudhir pic.twitter.com/65jcquFcQ0

— NDTV (@ndtv) December 13, 2025

As per latest news coming in, Messi has left for Hyderabad. He is supposed to be a part of an exhibition match involving Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Messi is scheduled to be in Mumbai on Sunday and in Delhi on Monday.

After the Kolkata chaos, the focus now shifts to Hyderabad. "The preparation levels are different here. 4000 officers are here. We are having continuous conversation with the organisers. We are far ahead of happennings in Kolkata. The crowd has been friendly and cooperative, " Sudheer Babu, Hyderabad Commissioner, tells NDTV

#WATCH | Kolkata | On Salt Lake Stadium vandalism, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, "The organizer has been arrested and an investigation has been done..." https://t.co/hZUwy9hMLC pic.twitter.com/6HLFgKCWvs

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

#WATCH | Kolkata: On the Chaos at Messi's Kolkata event, Additional Director General (ADG) Law and Order Jawed Shamim says, "There is normalcy now. The second part is the investigation; the FIR has been lodged, and the chief organiser has been arrested... I'm telling you, they… pic.twitter.com/GRqz03wPvp

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

"There was anger among fans at the stadium that Argentine footballer Lionel Messi did not play. However, the plan was that he would only come, wave to the crowd, and *leave. The organisers have given a written assurance that refunds will be provided. We have detained the main organiser:" West Bengal DG Rajeev Kumar

Kolkata, West Bengal: Fans threw chairs at RAF personnel and vandalised the stadium after Argentine footballer Lionel Messi left Salt Lake Stadium pic.twitter.com/VINSYpP8uD

— IANS (@ians_india) December 13, 2025

I am deeply disturbed and shocked by the mismanagement witnessed today at Salt Lake Stadium. I was on my way to the stadium to attend the event along with thousands of sports lovers and fans who had gathered to catch a glimpse of their favourite footballer, Lionel Messi.
I…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 13, 2025

"Seeing the utter chaos, the management, the authorities, it was absolutely rubbish. All the people you see here love football. We all wanted to see Messi, but it was a total scam. We want our money back... The management was so bad. It is a black day for Kolkata. Kolkata is known for football, and we love football, we love Argentina, but this experience is absolutely a scam. The ministers were there with their children, and the other people could not see anything... We are very hurt," a fan said. 

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi says, "Absolutely terrible event. He came for just 10 minutes. All the leaders and ministers surrounded him. We couldn't see anything. He didn't take a single kick or a single penalty. They said they would bring… https://t.co/Ce4kNu8dBH pic.twitter.com/Rpko4UwlLW

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

“Here, a glass of cold drink costs Rs 150–200, yet we couldn’t even catch a glimpse of Messi. People have spent a month’s salary to see him. I paid Rs 5,000 for the ticket and came with my son to watch Messi not politicians. The police and military personnel were taking selfies, and the management is to blame. There wasn’t even drinking water available,” an angry fan, Ajay Shah, told PTI. 

Fans, who had paid between Rs 4,500 and Rs 10,000 for tickets to watch the Argentine star, hurled bottles and damaged fibreglass seats, forcing the police to intervene as they struggled to bring the situation under control.

Moments after Lionel Messi emerged from the tunnel, the situation spiralled out of control. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who had arrived in Kolkata for the special event, along with former India captain Sourav Ganguly and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, were unable to be part of the programme as the event was cut short amid the chaos. Such was the situation that promoter Satadru Datta, organiser of the ‘GOAT Tour’, along with security personnel, had to whisk Messi away as the Salt Lake Stadium turned into a scene of political one-upmanship.

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi says, "We are very disappointed... My child was very excited to see Messi... I think it's a scam for the people. When Messi arrived, everyone surrounded him..." https://t.co/Ce4kNu8dBH pic.twitter.com/kAT4DHMDXT

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: Angry fans resort to vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, alleging poor management of the event.
Star footballer Lionel Messi has left the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.
A fan of star footballer Lionel Messi said, "Absolutely terrible… pic.twitter.com/TOf2KYeFt9

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

#MessiInIndia
Messi came for 5 minutes and went back
People turning violent in Salt Lake stadium
Throwing bottles,belt, chairs and breaking hoarding.#Messi𓃵 #goattourindia pic.twitter.com/RsURsDuo1c

— Uttam Raghab (@jnrVENOM) December 13, 2025

Messi's stadium lap cut short in Kolkata, fans outraged@SreyashiDey pic.twitter.com/Yd1lIhCcsS

— NDTV (@ndtv) December 13, 2025

Pathetic. Woeful. Poignant.
Poor Organised event in Kolkata. Management played with fans emotion.#Messi #MessiInIndia #Messi𓃵 #MessiKolkata pic.twitter.com/efrSb7Nwxu

— Jaikumar Murugesan (@ChoChoJaikul) December 13, 2025

Messi has already left the stadium! Fans are really unhappy. Some of them are venting anger over not getting able to see Messi properly. 'Absolute disgrace' and 'total mismanagement' said some of the fans while talking to NDTV about their experience. 

Messi has arrived at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan. He is taking a round of the stadium. 

#WATCH | West Bengal: Star footballer Lionel Messi greets his fans at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata
A friendly match and a felicitation ceremony will be organised here. #Messi𓃵 #MessiInIndia
(Video Source: DD Sports) pic.twitter.com/BmxhJ7PQAT

— ANI (@ANI) December 13, 2025

Mohun Bagan Messi All Stars vs Diamond Harbour Messi all stars have kicked off. pic.twitter.com/xGHBSpq3cA

— 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐮𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧 💎 (@mohunbaganlad) December 13, 2025

Accoridng to several reports, Messi will arrive at the Yuva Bharati Kriranga in some time from now on. Meanwhile, the Mohun Bagan All Stars vs Diamond Harbours All Stars exhibition match in honour of the football great has started. 

RPSG Chairman Sanjiv Goenka with GOAT of Football - Messi. [RevSportz] pic.twitter.com/2NNuNacvaJ

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 13, 2025

Leo Messi’s unveiling the 70 feet statue of him in Kolkata.
He talks about how he’s “happy to be here” pic.twitter.com/1690fKRx1X

— We Are Messi 🔟 (@WeAreMessi) December 13, 2025

VIDEO | Kolkata: Football icon Lionel Messi to virtually unveil his 70-foot statue from Salt Lake stadium, with West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan present at the event.#LionelMessi #Kolkata #Football
(Full VIDEO available on PTI Videos –… pic.twitter.com/dqISIwMgl4

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 13, 2025

There you go! Messi has virtually unveiled his 70 foot statue in Kolkata. Visuals from Kolkata show Shah Rukh Khan and his son AbRam are with Messi currently. This is the first such statue of Messi in India.

The Lionel Messi ceremony has started in Yuva Bharati Krirangan. Aneek Dhar is performing currently. In some time from now, Messi will arrive at the stadium! 

Speaking to news ANI, Sujit Bose said Messi and his team had given their consent for the statue and expressed their happiness after seeing it. He added that the club has been in constant touch with Messi's management and that further interaction with the footballer is expected.

"We have talked to his manager, and today we will talk to Messi. He gave his consent for the statue and they are also happy," Bose told ANI.

West Bengal Minister and Sree Bhumi Sporting Club President Sujit Bose on Saturday said that football icon Lionel Messi and his team are happy with the 70-foot statue installed at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, Kolkata. Messi, who is in the city to kick off his GOAT Tour India 2025, is scheduled to virtually unveil the statue today.

The Sree Bhumi Sporting Club has completed the installation of a towering 70-foot iron statue in admiration of the Argentine football legend at Lake Town in South Dum Dum, Kolkata. The statue portrays Messi holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, symbolising his historic World Cup triumph and has drawn significant attention from football fans across the city and beyond. The statue will be virtually unveiled by Messi himself, adding to the excitement surrounding his visit.

The lobby of the Hyatt Regency hotel in Kolkata, where the Argentine great is staying, turned chaotic as fans sprinted across corridors shouting "Messi! Messi!" According to news agency PTI, Messi checked into Room 730, with the entire seventh floor sealed off to ensure no movement around his suite. Check full details here 

With Messi's arrival in India, excitement is at an all-time high, and fans have prepared for a grand celebration in the city. However, one female fan stood out with an unusual placard that grabbed everyone's attention.

"We have come here to see Messi. (About the placard) Yes, it was written by me. I got married last Friday, but my husband and I decided to postpone our honeymoon because Messi is coming to our city," she said. Read full story here

This Messi statue in Kolkata, India
pic.twitter.com/J8gWdIR92r

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 12, 2025

In the evening leg of Messi's itinerary in Hyderabad on Saturday, Messi will team up with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul for a football clinic. A 7-a-side match, a celebrity game, with chief minister Revanth Reddy cheering from the sidelines has been planned as well

Leo Messi llegó a India para el GOAT Tour.
📹 vía @ArjyaNeel https://t.co/UgSv4IWAKt pic.twitter.com/DBs1jkLEKm

— Corta (@somoscorta) December 12, 2025

Messi will be in India for three days starting Saturday. On December 13 (Saturday), Messi will spend majority of the time in Kolkata before going to Hyderabad in the evening. For the Kolkata leg, this is the likely schedule: 

9:30 am to 10:30 am: VIP meet-and-greet

10:30 am to 11:15 am: To inagurate 70 feet statue virtually 

11:15 am: To leave For Yuva Bharati Krirangan. Shah Rukh Khan and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will arrive too 

12 noon to 12:30 pm: Celebrity football match, felicitation

Lionel Messi is a three-day tour in India, where he will covering four cities. The cities are Kolkata, Hyderabad (December 13), Mumbai (December 14), and New Delhi (December 15). Check his full schedule here. 

VIDEO | West Bengal: Argentine footballer Lionel Messi arrived at Kolkata Airport accompanied by Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.
(Source: Third Party)#LionelMessi
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/nNVfGvfpnX

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 12, 2025

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the the Argentinian Football great Lionel Messi's much-awaited GOAT India Tour. Stay tuned for all the live updates.