Lionel Messi is in damage control mode. After Kerala was abruptly dropped from Argentina’s 2025 calendar, the football icon has added Hyderabad to his GOAT Tour — a move that feels less like a celebration and more like damage control. For months, Kerala had been preparing to welcome Messi in what was touted as India’s biggest football spectacle. But the sudden “postponement” exposed cracks in planning, coordination, and communication, leaving millions of fans heartbroken. Now, by adding Hyderabad, Messi seems to be reaching out to Indian fans, hoping to rebuild trust and avoid another Hong Kong-style backlash that shook his global image last year. But will this be enough to fix a broken connection with the most passionate football audience in Asia? Rupha Ramani with more.
