Messi wraps up India trip at Anant Ambani Vantara in Jamnagar

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

Unlike commercial events and stadium shows in metro cities, on the Gujarat leg of the tour, Messi visited Anant Ambani’s Vantara, which formed the final part of his multi-city itinerary.

traditional welcome
The Inter Miami trio were given a ceremonial welcome upon arrival at Anant Ambani’s Vantara. Footage from the evening show where Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani welcome guests with rose petals showered on them. Messi was presented with a traditional beaded necklace and a gift wrapped in a Kashmiri shawl by Anant Ambani. The football legend, with a red tilak on his forehead, posed for a photo next to the opening plaque.

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spiritual accommodation
The itinerary included a visit to the temple complex on the Vantara premises. Wearing formal attire, Messi, Suarez and De Paul attended the ‘Aarti’ evening. The football players, standing next to the Ambanis under the temple’s big bell, clapped to the rhythm of the ‘bhajans’. They paid tribute to the jade idol of Ganesh, which offered a rare glimpse of global sports icons immersed in Indian spirituality.

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wildlife and conservation tour
The night ended with a guided night safari. Traveling in an open vehicle with Anant Ambani, Vantara’s main guide on protection operations. Radhika Ambani also accompanied the group and pointed out the various species rehabilitated at the centre.

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There were close encounters with wildlife on the tour. Messi was photographed sitting next to a glass-paned enclosure, smiling at a tiger standing on its hind legs just inches away.

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The group also interacted directly with herbivores in open areas; In an intimate moment, Messi petted a giraffe as it lowered its neck into their car. He also attended a feeding session offering grass for a rescued rhino.

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The visit to Jamnagar completes Messi’s 2025 tour of India. The trip, which began last week, saw the World Cup winner fulfill significant sporting and business commitments in four major metropolises, culminating in this curated wildlife conservation experience.