Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy scored what many in political circles believe a perfect political goal, as global football icon Lionel Messi watched on, alongside his boss and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the man who once placed his full political faith in Revanth.
On the surface, it was a football spectacle in Hyderabad on Saturday evening (December 13, 2025). Beneath it, however, was a carefully calibrated political statement. By bringing Messi to Hyderabad and engaging him on the pitch and off it for over five hours, the Chief Minister projected Hyderabad as a safe, mature and truly global city, capable of hosting world-class events with discipline and dignity.
Hyderabad roars for Messi, as Revanth Reddy scores in a friendly match
This was not merely a match where Messi casually rolled the ball and thrilled the crowd, but an also an event in which Mr. Revanth Reddy positioned himself as the organiser-in-chief and a decisive go-getter, comfortably occupying centre stage. The positivity spiralled at a time when violence in Kolkata had cast a shadow on such public events.
As Rahul Gandhi looked on, Mr. Reddy ensured that he shared the spotlight with his boss reinforcing his emergence as the Congress party’s most visible and confident chief ministers.
