News for 'GOAT'

TMC, BJP spar over 'saffron flags' at Messi event

TMC, BJP spar over 'saffron flags' at Messi event

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

The TMC and BJP have engaged in a blame game following a chaotic Lionel Messi event at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, which saw spectators storming the field and the main organiser being arrested for alleged mismanagement.

Messi Lands In Kolkata Amid Massive Fan Frenzy

Messi Lands In Kolkata Amid Massive Fan Frenzy

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's touchdown in Kolkata in the early hours of Saturday sent the city into a frenzy.

Messi's Brief Visit Sparks Chaos At Kolkata Stadium

Messi's Brief Visit Sparks Chaos At Kolkata Stadium

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Angry fans hurled bottles and damaged fibreglass seats, forcing the police to intervene as they struggled to bring the situation under control at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.

Messi brings smiles to young footballers in Delhi

Messi brings smiles to young footballers in Delhi

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

Lionel Messi lit up the Arun Jaitley Stadium as the final leg of his G.O.A.T India Tour got underway in Delhi on Monday.

The GOAT Is Back At Wimbledon!

The GOAT Is Back At Wimbledon!

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

Roger Federer, accompanied by his wife Mirka, was spotted in the Royal Box during the fourth-round match between Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur.

CM Reddy trains as Hyderabad awaits Messi visit

CM Reddy trains as Hyderabad awaits Messi visit

Rediff.com1 Dec 2025

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is expected to kick off a friendly football match to be attended by legend Lionel Messi during his visit to Hyderabad on December 13.

Curacao's World Cup qualification sparks India football debate in RS

Curacao's World Cup qualification sparks India football debate in RS

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

India's footballing future was discussed in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday by Congress member Jose K Mani, as he cited tiny Dutch-Caribbean island Curacao's World Cup qualification to ask Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya about the long-term plan for sport in the country that is on a downward spiral.

'A GOAT Retires'

'A GOAT Retires'

Rediff.com18 Dec 2024

'I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to ... showcase that in club level cricket.'

Praggnanandhaa in awe of chess GOAT

Praggnanandhaa in awe of chess GOAT

Rediff.com29 Jun 2025

From flawless tournament runs to viral outbursts, Carlsen continues to shape the sport's future - sometimes with brilliance, sometimes with drama.

Fans Welcome GOAT With Firecrackers

Fans Welcome GOAT With Firecrackers

Rediff.com5 Sep 2024

Thalapathy Vijay-starrer GOAT released to much fanfare and celebration.

Year of the Woman: How India's Sportswomen Owned 2025

Year of the Woman: How India's Sportswomen Owned 2025

Rediff.com30 Dec 2025

They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.

'While Messi draws crowds, Indian football hits standstill'

'While Messi draws crowds, Indian football hits standstill'

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Indian men's football team captain Sandesh Jhingan on Wednesday questioned the logic of spending crores on Lionel Messi's high-profile 'GOAT Tour', saying the extravagance has forced him to think if anyone is really concerned about investing in Indian football, which has effectively come to a standstill.

'All The Ministers Surrounded Messi, We Couldn't See Anything'

'All The Ministers Surrounded Messi, We Couldn't See Anything'

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Lionel Messi's much-hyped visit to the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday lasted 22 minutes, just enough to underline everything that is wrong in Indian football and the state administration's mismanagement.

Messi Returns To India But Won't Kick A Ball

Messi Returns To India But Won't Kick A Ball

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi is not scheduled to play serious football on the 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025'.

PIX: A Dream Night at Wankhede as Messi Comes Calling

PIX: A Dream Night at Wankhede as Messi Comes Calling

Rediff.com15 Dec 2025

For long stretches, the atmosphere felt less Mumbai and more Camp Nou. Chants of 'Barca... Barca' and 'Suarez... Suarez' echoed through the stands as Messi interacted with youngsters, celebrities and former India football captain Sunil Chhetri.

Who Eats The Most Cheese: The 7 Top Cheese Consumers

Who Eats The Most Cheese: The 7 Top Cheese Consumers

Rediff.com23 Nov 2025

According to World Population Review 2025 data, United States eats the most cheese in the world. It also the world largest cheese-producing country. In 2022 it manufactured 6.4 million tonnes of the world's output of 22.6 million tonnes of cheese in the same year.

Former Barca teammate to join Messi's India tour!

Former Barca teammate to join Messi's India tour!

Rediff.com11 Oct 2025

"Game Set Match... So it's now confirmed and official. World Cup winner Argentine superstar Rodrigo De Paul and Uruguayan and Barcelona legend Luis Surez will join Messi for the 'GOAT Tour to India 2025' Vamos," posted organiser Satadru Dutta on social media.

From mayhem to magic: How Messi changed lives in Kolkata

From mayhem to magic: How Messi changed lives in Kolkata

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Lionel Messi's GOAT Tour began amid chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, but for former India players Dipendu Biswas and Syed Rahim Nabi, it still turned into the moment of a lifetime in Kolkata on Saturday.

Amritsari Kulcha Among World's Best Dishes

Amritsari Kulcha Among World's Best Dishes

Rediff.com12 Dec 2025

From Vori-Vori to Arroz Tapado and Punjab's kulchas... This is what the world loves to eat!

Who is Satadru Dutta? The man behind Messi's India Tour

Who is Satadru Dutta? The man behind Messi's India Tour

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Satadru Dutta's rise was swift and ambitious. But that journey took a dramatic nosedive on Saturday.

Chaos at Messi's Kolkata event sparks political slugfest

Chaos at Messi's Kolkata event sparks political slugfest

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

Political parties in West Bengal, including the ruling TMC and opposition BJP, have condemned the organizers of an event featuring Lionel Messi in Kolkata after it descended into chaos due to spectators' inability to properly view the football star. Demands for action and accountability have been made.

From Bad To Worse: How Indian Football Fared In 2025

From Bad To Worse: How Indian Football Fared In 2025

Rediff.com21 Dec 2025

Indian football remained in a state of terminal decline after experiencing arguably its darkest phase in a year marked by severe administrative crisis, court hearings, financial issues, absence of domestic leagues, and a steep decline in performance of the senior men's team.

Messi event fiasco: Mamata accepts sports minister's resignation

Messi event fiasco: Mamata accepts sports minister's resignation

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Aroop Biswas's resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress said.

GOAT, Vijay's Failed Political Launch Vehicle

GOAT, Vijay's Failed Political Launch Vehicle

Rediff.com9 Sep 2024

Vijay has a lot of young and middle-aged women fans, but as voters, they are possibly now with the DMK, or remain with the AIADMK. Recapturing this constituency would have helped Vijay's political launch and the GOAT script and dialogues could have gone a long way in helping out. But the kind of script and screenplay and the unusually and equally unnecessary long run-time (3 hours, 3 minutes) that GOAT offers takes the film experience over the heads of those that are not familiar with secret agents and uranium theft in Tamil cinema, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Two India trips for Messi? Here's what we know

Two India trips for Messi? Here's what we know

Rediff.com2 Oct 2025

Lionel Messi on Thursday confirmed his participation in the much-anticipated GOAT Tour of India 2025, calling it an "honour" to revisit the "passionate football nation" where he last played 14 years ago.

Confirmed! Messi to visit India in December

Confirmed! Messi to visit India in December

Rediff.com15 Aug 2025

Lionel Messi's much-anticipated visit to India has received its final seal of approval with the Argentine superstar set to kick off his three-city tour in Kolkata on December 12.

Messi's Kerala visit in November postponed

Messi's Kerala visit in November postponed

Rediff.com26 Oct 2025

Messi's last visit with the Argentina team to India was back in 2011, when they faced Venezuela in a friendly match at Kolkata's iconic Salt Lake Stadium.

GOAT Review: No Logic Here

GOAT Review: No Logic Here

Rediff.com6 Sep 2024

Divya Nair recommends that non-Vijay fans save their money and wait for GOAT to drop on Netflix instead. At least you can fast forward and get to the climax faster.

From U19 Prodigy To GOAT!

From U19 Prodigy To GOAT!

Rediff.com12 May 2025

From the lad with spiked hair lifting the U19 World Cup to the statesman in whites scoring one final ton -- Virat Kohli's journey is one of relentless ambition, transformation, and enduring legacy.

Fiery Perth Deck Promises Explosive Start to the Ashes

Fiery Perth Deck Promises Explosive Start to the Ashes

Rediff.com20 Nov 2025

The Perth Stadium curator has promised the wicket will be green, fast and bouncy but Stokes offered no thoughts on whether England would attack with four quicks or pick the specialist spinner, Shoaib Bashir, in their 11.

The Gentle Colossus Of Tamil Cinema

The Gentle Colossus Of Tamil Cinema

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

Whether it was in the company of superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan -- or, on rare occasions with both together, among others -- Saravanan's demeanour would stand out, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Locked in cowshed by upper caste women, Dalit boy ends life

Locked in cowshed by upper caste women, Dalit boy ends life

Rediff.com1 Oct 2025

A 12-year-old Dalit boy in Shimla district allegedly died by suicide after being harassed by upper caste women for entering their house. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for justice.

Simone Biles, GOAT Of Gymnastics

Simone Biles, GOAT Of Gymnastics

Rediff.com2 Aug 2024

As she continues to defy expectations and rewrite the record books, one thing is certain: Simone Biles' legacy as the queen of gymnastics is secure.

India's new travel anthem: Go where the music plays, and tourism thrives

India's new travel anthem: Go where the music plays, and tourism thrives

Rediff.com10 Nov 2025

India's live events scene is hitting a high note. With global performers adding the country to their tour maps and the government aiming to double the concert economy, hotels in key metro cities are bracing for sold-out weekends. Travel operators, too, are curating packages built entirely around concerts.

Bihar polls: Jehanabad's youths want jobs, not rhetoric, from next govt

Bihar polls: Jehanabad's youths want jobs, not rhetoric, from next govt

Rediff.com9 Nov 2025

Voters in Bihar's Jehanabad and Ghosi express their hopes for change, particularly regarding job creation and development, in the upcoming government following the state elections.

Gigcations Are India's New Travel Phenom

Gigcations Are India's New Travel Phenom

Rediff.com10 Nov 2025

Travellers are turning concerts into full-fledged weekend getaways, giving rise to the 'gigcation' -- a short, experience-led micro-holiday.

Why Aussie swimming queen retired at her peak?

Why Aussie swimming queen retired at her peak?

Rediff.com16 Oct 2025

Ariarne Titmus has retired from competitive swimming at the age of 25, ending a stellar career that featured one of the sport's great rivalries with American Katie Ledecky.

Bison Review: Uncompromising Portrayal Of Brutal Reality

Bison Review: Uncompromising Portrayal Of Brutal Reality

Rediff.com29 Oct 2025

Mari Selvaraj delivers his most rage-filled film in years, with a superbly cast Dhruv Vikram giving it his all, notices Arjun Menon.

Messi's Special Birthday Gift For Modi

Messi's Special Birthday Gift For Modi

Rediff.com17 Sep 2025

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has sent his signed 2022 World Cup victorious jersey to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his 75th birthday.

Kohli's Grey Beard Stuns Fans

Kohli's Grey Beard Stuns Fans

Rediff.com8 Aug 2025

Fans were surprised to see Kohli sporting a grey beard for the first time as he posed for a photo with Shash Patel in London.