INDIA — Just days after India went viral for unveiling a Lionel Messi statue many joked resembled Cristiano Ronaldo, the country has produced another unexpected Messi moment. This time, it happened on the pitch — and involved a senior government official inadvertently sending the world’s greatest footballer sprinting after the ball.
Lionel Messi’s India tour continued Saturday night at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana, following a chaotic appearance in Kolkata that was cut short after crowd control broke down.
In Hyderabad, security was tighter, the crowd more orderly, and the atmosphere far more controlled.
Messi took time to walk around the stadium, juggle the ball, greet local football players, and toss souvenirs to fans. The event was designed as a celebratory exhibition — until a light-hearted kickabout with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy became the night’s most talked-about moment.
During the friendly exchange, Messi and Reddy attempted short passes. But several of the official’s passes missed their mark, forcing Messi to jog — and then run — to retrieve the ball. The awkward yet humorous sequence quickly went viral on social media, drawing laughter and amusement from fans around the world.
Despite the misfires, Messi appeared relaxed and good-humored, smiling throughout the exchange and continuing the session without visible frustration. The moment humanized the global superstar and added an unscripted charm to the event.
The Hyderabad appearance stood in sharp contrast to Messi’s earlier stop in Kolkata, where overwhelming crowds flooded the stands and reportedly threw seats onto the pitch, prompting organizers to shorten his appearance to roughly 20 minutes.
Messi’s India tour is far from over. He is scheduled to continue traveling with fellow stars Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suárez, with upcoming stops in Mumbai and New Delhi before the tour concludes on Monday, December 15.
From statues to stadium slip-ups, India’s Messi tour continues to generate headlines — not always as planned, but undeniably memorable.
