Messi wraps up India trip at Anant Ambani's Vantara in Jamnagar

Lionel Messi’s week-long sojourn across India, which saw the football icon navigate through frenzied crowds in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, concluded in the serene environs of Jamnagar on Wednesday. The Inter Miami captain, accompanied by teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, made a visit to Anant Ambani’s Vantara, the 3,500-acre animal rescue and rehabilitation centre.

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In contrast to the commercial engagements and stadium appearances in the metro cities, the Gujarat leg of the tour saw Messi visit Anant Ambani’s Vantara, marking the final chapter of his multi-city itinerary.

Traditional welcome
Upon arrival at Anant Ambani’s Vantara, the Inter Miami trio received a ceremonial reception. Visuals from the evening show Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani welcoming the guests as rose petals were showered on them. Messi was presented with a traditional beaded necklace and draped in a Kashmiri shawl by Anant Ambani. Sporting a red tilak on his forehead, the football legend posed for photographs near the inauguration plaque.

Spiritual sojourn
The itinerary included a visit to the temple complex within the Vantara premises. Dressed in formal attire, Messi, Suarez, and De Paul participated in the evening ‘Aarti’. Standing alongside the Ambanis under the temple’s large bell, the footballers clapped to the rhythm of the ‘bhajans’. They paid their respects at a jade Ganesh idol, offering a rare glimpse of the global sports icons immersing themselves in Indian spirituality.

Wildlife and conservation tour
The evening culminated in a guided night safari. Travelling in an open-sided vehicle with Anant Ambani as their primary guide, on the Vantara’s conservation operations. Radhika Ambani also accompanied the group, pointing out the various species rehabilitated at the centre.

The tour featured close encounters with the wildlife. Messi was photographed seated next to a glass-partitioned enclosure, smiling as a tiger stood on its hind legs just inches away.

The group also interacted directly with herbivores in the open zones; in one candid moment, Messi petted a giraffe that had lowered its neck into their vehicle. He also participated in a feeding session, offering grass to a rescued rhinoceros.

The Jamnagar visit wraps up Messi’s 2025 India tour. The trip, which began last week, saw the World Cup winner fulfill significant sporting and commercial commitments across four major metros culminating in this curated experience in wildlife conservation experience.