The Hyderabad leg of Lionel Messi’s GOAT tour offered a sharp contrast to the chaos that marred the opening event in Kolkata, with fans at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium enjoying a far smoother and more engaging experience on the night.

Given what had unfolded in Kolkata, expectations were modest at best heading into the Hyderabad show. Instead, organisers appeared to have taken clear lessons from the earlier missteps, resulting in better crowd control, improved access for fans and a noticeably calmer atmosphere inside the stadium.

The evening began with a friendly match between Revanth Reddy 9s and Aparna All-Stars, setting a relaxed tone. Just minutes after kick-off, the noise levels inside the stadium surged, signalling the arrival of Messi and his entourage. Congress leader R

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