Lionel Messi at Vantara: What He Did With Anant Ambani And Radhika Merchant — And Can the Public Visit Jamnagar’s Wildlife Centre

Some moments feel engineered for the internet, yet unfold with surprising sincerity. Lionel Messi’s meeting with Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant at Vantara, Jamnagar, was one such crossover—global football royalty stepping into India’s most ambitious wildlife conservation space, hosted by a couple that has quietly redefined how legacy, luxury and responsibility intersect. What began as part of Messi’s much-publicised GOAT India Tour turned into a pause of calm, culture and compassion, far removed from stadium lights and roaring crowds. As images of Messi at Vantara flooded social media—feeding elephants, folding his hands during aarti, smiling beside a lion cub—search engines lit up with questions. What exactly is Vantara? Why Jamnagar? What did

Messi do there? And yes, what was that extraordinary watch Anant Ambani gifted him? Here is a full, unhurried look at the visit that became the softest, yet most striking, highlight of Messi’s India journey.

Messi’s GOAT India Tour: From Stadiums to Stillness

Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour traced a familiar path of packed venues and fevered fandom. Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi each delivered their share of spectacle, with exhibition moments, fan interactions and youth engagements reminding Indian supporters why Messi remains football’s most beloved figure. After concluding the Delhi leg at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Messi made an unscheduled detour—accepting Anant Ambani’s personal invitation to visit Vantara in Jamnagar, Gujarat. The shift was dramatic. From concrete and crowds, Messi stepped into a vast conservation landscape designed around rescue, rehabilitation and long-term animal welfare.

What Is Vantara and Why It Matters

Vantara, founded by Anant Ambani, is not a zoo in the traditional sense. Spread across thousands of acres, it functions as a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre housing rescued big cats, elephants, herbivores, reptiles and orphaned young animals. Its facilities include a multi-speciality wildlife hospital, foster care centres and large, naturalistic enclosures built around behavioural enrichment rather than display. The philosophy blends modern veterinary science with Indian ecological ethics, rooted in Sanatana Dharma’s reverence for nature. It is this combination—technology, tradition and compassion—that shaped Messi’s experience.

Can The General Public Visit Vantara?

As of now, the general public cannot visit Vantara. The sanctuary remains closed because its primary focus is animal rescue, rehabilitation and scientific care, not tourism. Most animals housed here are recovering from trauma, and unrestricted human presence could disrupt their healing. However, according to information shared on Vantara’s official platforms, a limited, education-focused visitor programme is being considered for late 2025 or early 2026. If it opens, access is likely to be strictly regulated, with guided visits, capped footfall and an emphasis on learning rather than leisure.

Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s Twinning-in-Black Moment

When Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant met Messi at Vantara, their styling made a quiet statement. Both chose minimalist, all-black ensembles—sharp, understated and deliberately restrained. Against Vantara’s earthy greens and ochres, the coordinated looks struck a balance between elegance and humility. Fashion watchers noticed the intent immediately. Nothing flashy, nothing ceremonial. The focus stayed firmly on the setting, the rituals and the guest, while still delivering one of the most talked-about “power couple” visuals of the year.

The Richard Mille Gift That Made Global Headlines

Luxury entered the narrative discreetly, then decisively. During the visit, Anant Ambani presented Lionel Messi with an ultra-rare Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon “Asia Edition”. Only around a dozen pieces of this model exist worldwide. Crafted in black carbon with a skeletonised dial and tourbillon movement, the watch is valued at up to USD 1.2 million—approximately ₹10.9 crore. Observers noted that Messi arrived at Vantara without a watch and was later seen wearing the Richard Mille on his wrist, underscoring the personal nature of the gesture. For collectors, it was a moment of horological significance. For fans, it was a glimpse into how relationships at this level are marked—not loudly, but memorably.

Inside Messi’s Day at Vantara: Key Moments

A guided conservation tour

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant personally accompanied Messi, along with Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, through Vantara’s facilities, explaining rescue stories, rehabilitation protocols and long-term conservation goals.

A lion cub named Lionel

At the Foster Care Centre, the couple named a rescued lion cub “Lionel” in Messi’s honour—a symbolic gesture reflecting resilience, strength and continuity.

Football with an elephant calf

At the Elephant Care Centre, Messi joined an enrichment session with Maniklal, a rescued elephant calf saved from logging labour along with his mother, Prathima. The impromptu football moment quickly became one of the visit’s most shared visuals.

Animal feeding sessions

Messi fed rhinos, giraffes, okapis and elephants, engaging closely with caregivers and learning about species-specific diets and medical care.

Temple visit and traditional rituals

The group participated in aarti, Nariyal Utsarg and Matka Phod, with Messi respectfully folding his hands before deities such as Hanuman and Ganesha.

Wildlife hospital walkthrough

Messi toured the multi-speciality wildlife hospital, observing real-time veterinary procedures and advanced surgical facilities.

An overnight stay

As part of his extended Jamnagar visit, Messi and his team stayed overnight within the Vantara property, away from the relentless pace of the tour.

Messi’s Words on Vantara

“What Vantara does is truly beautiful—the work for animals, the care they receive, the way they are rescued and looked after. It is genuinely impressive,” Messi said in an official release. “We had a wonderful time, felt completely at ease throughout, and it is an experience that stays with you. We will surely visit again to continue inspiring and supporting this meaningful work.” Messi also acknowledged India’s broader push towards wildlife conservation, praising the country’s leadership and long-term vision in this space.

Where Global Legacy Met Indian Ethos

At Vantara, Messi encountered a form of India rarely seen through broadcast lenses—quiet, ritualistic and deeply rooted in respect for living beings. From big cats thriving in enriched environments to orphaned animals rebuilding trust, the visit reflected values that align closely with Messi’s own philanthropic work through the Leo Messi Foundation. As his GOAT India Tour concluded, it was not the stadium roars that lingered most powerfully, but temple bells, a lion cub named in his honour and a football rolling gently at an elephant’s feet. In Jamnagar, hosted by Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, Lionel Messi experienced India not as an icon on a pedestal, but as a guest invited into its gentler, more enduring traditions. And that, perhaps, is why this visit will be remembered long after the hashtags fade.