Rahul Gandhi to meet Lionel Messi in Hyderabad

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Hyderabad on Saturday, December 13, 2025 to meet football legend Lionel Messi, who is here as part of the GOAT India tour.

Mr Gandhi will arrive at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on a special flight from Delhi at around 2.15pm and proceed to Falaknuma Palace Hotel to meet Messi.

Later in the evening, he will also watch the football match between Messi’s XI and Prime Minister Revanth Reddy’s XI, which is scheduled to be played in the evening. Mr Gandhi will leave for New Delhi at night.

Elaborate security arrangements are being made for the event at the RGI Cricket Stadium.

Rachakonda Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu said that security will be provided by 3,000 personnel.

Messi came to Kolkata

Thousands braved the December cold and waited past midnight to give a rousing welcome to Argentinian superstar footballer Lionel Messi upon his arrival in Kolkata for the three-day, four-city GOAT India Tour 2025.

The goal scored by the Barcelona legend at 02.26 in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 13, 2025, sent the city into a frenzy. Gate 4 of international arrivals became a roaring sea of ​​chants, flags and flashing phones; fans rushed between the gates just to catch a glimpse of their favorite star.

Children were perched on shoulders and playing drums as Messi was led out of the VIP door under heavy security. A heavy motorcade then escorted him to his hotel, where another large crowd waited until late into the night.

(with PTI inputs)