GOAT India Tour: Lionel Messi meets Rahul Gandhi; presents signed Argentina jersey

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Argentine footballer Lionel Messi in Hyderabad on Saturday during the second leg of the GOAT India Tour of Argentininan football greay.

Messi presented a signed jersey to the Congress MP, and the two spoke briefly at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium.




Addressing fans in Hyderabad, Messi said, "for the love I've received today and always".

Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy was also present at the venue and, before Gandhi arrived, spent some time with Messi on the ground, where they were seen casually kicking a football.

Messi reached Hyderabad on Saturday evening, a few hours after disorder marked the opening leg of his India tour in Kolkata.

Around 50,000 spectators at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, many of whom paid between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000 — and in some cases up to Rs 20,000 in the black market — were left upset as politicians, VVIPs, security personnel and others surrounded Messi, leaving fans unable to get a clear view.

The situation escalated when angry spectators threw bottles, which are banned inside sports venues. Questions were raised over how such items, including food packets, were allowed into the stadium. Chairs were later pulled out and thrown.

Fibreglass seats were found damaged across the field and the synthetic track.


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