Hyderabad, Dec 13 (LatestNewsX) – Rahul Gandhi, who heads the main opposition front in the Lok Sabha, ran into Argentine superstar Lionel Messi during the football star’s “GOAT Tour” stop in Hyderabad. Gandhi accepted a special “GOATED No. 10” jersey from the World Cup‑winning midfielder and spent a few moments swapping stories and pictures with the legend.
After the meet Gandhi dropped an Instagram story from his official account, applauding the Argentine, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of recent history.
> “Viva Football With the GOAT @leomessi,” Gandhi wrote, attaching a clip that shows the pair posing for photos, walking together on the pitch, and exchanging words as Messi waved to his fans.
Later that evening the Congress party shared a post that Messi hands Gandhi a commemorative jersey painted in Argentina’s team colors.
> “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐓 𝐋𝐈𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐎𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐍𝐨. 𝟏𝟎 𝐉𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄𝐘 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐮𝐥 𝐆𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐡𝐢 𝐣𝐢,” the message read, accompanied by footage of the post‑match ceremony in Hyderabad and a brief exchange of mementos between the two.
Messi’s Hyderabad visit also included a stop at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. The appearance came shortly after a tumultuous event in Kolkata, where a poor turnout and fan unrest at the Salt Lake Stadium had marred the Argentine’s debut performance.
Upon arriving in the state capital earlier that day, Messi appeared in a series of photos – juggling with local children, chatting with officials, and waving from a VIP box while the arena’s big screen broadcast a live match. He was also seen meeting Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, other government dignitaries, and several Indian celebrities.
The organizers behind Messi’s India tour have been under scrutiny since the Kolkata incident. Reports confirm that a key figure in the event’s management was taken into custody by police for alleged mishandling that reportedly triggered chaos at Salt Lake. Police released a statement that a first information report (FIR) will be filed, and that a thorough probe will identify those responsible for the disorder. Those found liable will face legal action, the authorities said.
The Kolkata episode was triggered by fans who complained about high ticket prices and limited access to Messi. A riot erupted inside the stadium, forcing police to employ a lathi charge and deploy the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to restore order. Messi departed the venue earlier than planned.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was en route to the stadium during the unrest, was advised to turn her vehicle back after being briefed on the situation. She subsequently announced a judicial commission to investigate the causes of the failure in crowd management.
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