Union Minister Rijiju Criticizes Telangana CM Reddy's Football Skills in Exhibition Match with Lionel Messi

Revanth Reddy participated in a friendly exhibition match against Lionel Messi during the "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025" event.

New Delhi:

Football enthusiasts in Hyderabad were treated to a remarkable spectacle as Argentine legend Lionel Messi played alongside Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, effortlessly scoring a goal. However, this friendly encounter has sparked a political exchange. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju shared footage of the match and criticized Reddy for failing to deliver accurate passes to the football superstar.

"It's totally messed up!! CM Revanth Reddy Ji got a golden chance to play with GOAT but he couldn't even give simple pass to Messi. He kicked far left & right to make Messi run around," Rijiju stated in his post on X (formerly Twitter).

The 20-second clip shows Reddy attempting to pass to Messi twice, with the ball veering either far left or right rather than directly to the footballer, causing Messi to chase after it across the field.

Since being posted on Monday night, the video has garnered significant attention and diverse reactions, with some defending Reddy while others supported Rijiju's comments.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh seized the opportunity to reference the chaotic scenes that occurred at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium during Messi's earlier visit, suggesting: "Mamta didi might've asked him to take revenge for the Kolkata mess."

Social media users also weighed in, with one commenting, "Pressure of playing with the GOAT is real. Even simple passes feel legendary when Messi's on the pitch!"

Another user observed, "No one else wore football, but he showed up match-ready. Sadly, the passes didn't match the outfit—otherwise the audience would've been cheering louder."

In the exhibition match, Revanth Reddy donned the number nine jersey and led a specially assembled team called Team RR9, competing against Messi's side, with the football icon wearing his signature number 10 jersey.

What made Team RR9 particularly meaningful was its composition - the Chief Minister played alongside talented young students selected from government schools who have demonstrated exceptional football abilities.

Reddy, a passionate football fan, was reportedly practicing diligently after completing his official duties to prepare for the friendly match, which was organized as part of the "G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025."

An official involved in coordinating the event had previously mentioned, "The CM is aware of the global spotlight this match brings. While it's an exhibition, he wants to put up a respectable performance. His dedication, even after gruelling days of governance, highlights his commitment to the state's sporting vision."