Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi sent fans at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday into a tipsy as he delighted the audience with a couple of touches and passes before sending lucky fans back with a memento as he kicked a ball into the stands as followers clamoured over it.
Messi took to the field to thrill fans with a few touches during the Hyderabad leg of the GOAT India Tour before kicking a ball into the stands as fans rushed to pick it up.
🚨Watch: Lionel Messi sends the ball into the stands for the fans to grab. 🤩 pic.twitter.com/dUge0Hpjut
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Messi made the trip down to Hyderabad following a chaotic visit to Kolkata as fans in the West Bengal Capital City, who
spent money to see the magician from Rosario were left disappointed. Politicians and organisers obstructed the Argentine superstar during his lap of honour at VYBK, causing fans to become agitated as they couldn’t get a clear view of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. This led to security breaches, forcing Messi to stop his lap of honour midway. Upset with the event’s organisation, fans began removing chairs and throwing various objects.
Messi arrived in Kolkata early on Saturday morning, greeted by great enthusiasm. Thousands of followers gathered at hotels, streets, and landmarks, hoping to catch a glimpse of the football icon. He unveiled a statue of his likeness at Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, South Dum Dum. The massive statue depicts the legend holding the FIFA World Cup trophy, commemorating his crowning achievement with Argentina in Qatar.
This visit marks Messi’s first trip to India since 2011 when he played at the Salt Lake Stadium, helping Argentina edge Venezuela 1-0 in a friendly. Messi’s return was supposed to be a joyous occasion as he walked the Indian shores as a World Champion, fulfilling a dream with his unmatched genius on the grandest stage in Doha.
However, chaos ensued as celebrities and influential people mobbed the star, taking up the time and emotions of the common man, leading to an emotional outbreak. The main issue was that fans were denied a clear view of their hero, whom they had come to see with great anticipation, only to feel deceived. Organisers, politicians, and celebrities took the spotlight, using their privileged access to share the stage with the man who captured the dreams of millions.
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