‘GOAT’: Hyderabad confirmed as southern stop for Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated tour

Hyderabad: Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated ‘GOAT Tour to India 2025’ just got bigger, with Hyderabad officially confirmed as the new southern stop.

The decision follows the cancellation of Argentina’s proposed friendly in Kochi, which had been originally scheduled for November 17 and announced by Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman.

The revised plan now ensures Messi’s India tour spans all four corners of the country, east (Kolkata), south (Hyderabad), west (Mumbai), and north (New Delhi), transforming it into a nationwide footballing event.

Hyderabad Replaces Kerala as Southern Venue

In a statement, tour organiser Satadru Dutta, the sole promoter of the ‘GOAT Tour to India 2025’, confirmed the change and said the aim was to make the event inclusive of every region.

“Now we are covering the south also. This will be a tribute to millions of football fans in South India,” Dutta said.

He added that the inclusion of Hyderabad was a conscious choice to balance regional representation after Kerala’s cancellation.

“With this, every part of India is covered. West is covered through Mumbai, east through Kolkata, and north through Delhi. There is a huge Messi fan base in Chennai, Kerala, and Hyderabad,” he explained.

“I wanted to make it a pan-India event, and now that the Kerala event is cancelled, South people are getting deprived of seeing Messi. Hyderabad was chosen to give the region its share of Messi magic,” he added.

Fans in South India Welcome the Move

The announcement has sparked excitement among fans across the southern states, many of whom had expressed disappointment after the Kerala leg was scrapped.

Vijay Reddy, a football fan from Hyderabad, said the news was “a dream come true.”

“We thought we missed our chance when Kerala got cancelled. Now that Hyderabad is on the map, it feels surreal. Messi coming here is historic,” he said.

Another fan, Meenakshi Nair from Kochi, shared a bittersweet reaction.

“It hurts that Kerala lost the event after all the anticipation, but I’m still happy Messi will play in South India. We’ll travel to Hyderabad if needed, he’s worth it.”

Football clubs and youth academies in Telangana have also expressed enthusiasm, with several already preparing to organise viewing and welcome events around Messi’s visit.

A Nationwide Football Celebration

With four cities, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, and now Hyderabad, on the itinerary, the ‘GOAT Tour to India 2025’ is being positioned as one of the largest football spectacles the country has ever hosted.

For Hyderabad, the addition marks a rare opportunity to be part of a global sporting moment. Local officials are expected to meet with organisers to finalise the venue, with the Gachibowli Stadium emerging as a likely option.

As Dutta put it, the goal remains simple:

“Every corner of India deserves to witness Messi. This is not just a match, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for fans.”