NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi’s highly anticipated GOAT Tour to India 2025 has just expanded its reach, with Hyderabad added as the new southern stop. The move ensures fans in South India won’t miss out on seeing the football icon after the cancellation of Argentina’s proposed friendly in Kerala.

The decision to include Hyderabad follows the scrapping of the Kochi leg, earlier announced by Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman for November 17. With this change, Messi’s tour will now cover all four regions of India — east (Kolkata), south (Hyderabad), west (Mumbai), and north (New Delhi) — making it one of the biggest sporting spectacles ever hosted in the country.

Hyderabad steps In for the South

“Now we are covering south also. This will be a tribute to millions of football fans in South India,” said Satadru Dutta, the sole organiser of the GOAT Tour to India 2025. “With this, every part of India is covered. West is covered through Mumbai, east through Kolkata, north through Delhi. There is a huge Messi fan base in Chennai, Kerala and Hyderabad.”

Dutta explained that Hyderabad was chosen to ensure fans from the region are not deprived of witnessing the Argentine superstar live. “South should also get exposure to Messi, so people from south can travel to Hyderabad and watch him. Booking for the Hyderabad event will happen within a week. The event is confirmed and will either be held in Gachibowli or Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium,” he confirmed.

He further revealed that the Hyderabad leg will be more than just a match. “It will be an extension of GOAT Cup as there will be a celebrity match, football clinic, felicitation, and musical programme. All the superstars of south will be in presence,” Dutta added.

Massive fan response

Dutta shared that Hyderabad will replace Ahmedabad in the tour schedule. “There has been a slight alteration — the Ahmedabad sponsors’ event will now be held in Mumbai,” he said.

“Messi is landing around midnight of December 12 or in the early hours of December 13. From Miami, he’s coming to Dubai where he will rest for a day or two. Then he would travel to Kolkata via private jet,” Dutta explained.

Messi, who last visited India in 2011 for a friendly against Venezuela, will be accompanied by long-time teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, both of whom have confirmed participation. The GOAT Tour, conceptualised by Dutta, will feature a blend of celebrity football games, musical shows, meet-and-greet sessions, and masterclasses for children across four cities.

Dutta said he wanted to ensure fans in southern India, especially in Kerala, Chennai, and Hyderabad, do not feel left out. “I wanted to make sure the people of south India do not feel deprived after the cancellation. Hyderabad was the natural choice. It’s centrally located and has a huge fan base,” he said.

Ticket sales have already seen huge demand across venues. All 28,000 seats at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, priced from ₹6,980, are sold out. Kolkata’s 68,000-capacity Salt Lake Stadium is nearly full, while New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, with ticket prices starting at ₹7,670, is also close to sold out.

Revised Itinerary

Dec 12–13 (Kolkata): Arrival around midnight or early hours; Meet and greet at hotel (9.30–10.40 am); GOAT Cup at Salt Lake Stadium (11.30 am–1.10 pm); Statue unveiling at Sreebhumi, Lake Town; leaves for Hyderabad (2.15 pm).

Dec 13 (Hyderabad): Meet and greet (5 pm); GOAT Cup (7–8.45 pm) at either Rajiv Gandhi or Gachibowli Stadiums.

Dec 14 (Mumbai): Meet and greet at hotel (12 noon); Padel GOAT Cup inauguration; GOAT Cup at Wankhede Stadium (5.30 pm).

Dec 15 (New Delhi): Meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi; GOAT Cup at Arun Jaitley Stadium (2.15 pm).

(With PTI Inputs)