Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Sunday announced that Hyderabad would host international football icon Lionel Messi. He will play a major match on December 13 as part of the GOAT India Tour 2025.
The event will take place at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. Revanth Reddy said the match would provide a rare moment of excitement for football fans in Telangana. He added that the state would welcome Messi with pride. Furthermore, young players view the occasion as an inspiring opportunity.
Organisers confirmed the schedule change, replacing Ahmedabad with Hyderabad. They said this decision reflects the city’s rising international profile and readiness to host world-class events.
Messi’s match in Hyderabad aligns with state sports policy goals
As per the updated itinerary, Messi will begin the tour in Kolkata on the morning of December 13. He will fly to Hyderabad later that evening for the match. Government officials stated that select students from government schools would join the Chief Minister on the field. This is part of the celebrations.
Officials added that the event aligns with the state’s broader push to promote youth participation in sports. They believe the match will offer meaningful exposure to aspiring athletes.
The August 2025 sports policy backs this effort. The policy led to the creation of a 14-member Board of Governors to manage the Telangana Sports Development Fund. The board includes Kapil Dev, Abhinav Bindra, Pullela Gopichand, Bhaichung Bhutia, and Sanjeev Goenka. Officials said the board would ensure the transparent use of sports resources across the state.
Previously, CM Revanth Reddy had also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider Hyderabad as a host city for the 2036 Olympics if India wins the bid. He asserted that Hyderabad has the infrastructure and potential to host global sporting events.