Soccer Legend Messi Tours Ambani Family’s Vantara Wildlife Conservation Centre in India’s Gujarat

Global football icon Lionel Messi concluded his GOAT India Tour 2025 with a high-profile visit to Vantara, a sprawling 3,500-acre wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat, established by Indian billionaire Anant Ambani.

The visit marked the final stop of Messi’s multi-city trip that included engagements in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, drawing huge public attention throughout the country.

Messi was warmly welcomed by Anant Ambani and his wife Radhika Merchant in traditional Indian fashion, featuring vibrant folk music, floral greetings and a ceremonial Maha Aarti at Vantara’s temple complex, where he participated in Hindu prayers for world peace and unity. During the welcome, Messi also took part in rituals including Ambe Mata Puja, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Puja and Shiv Abhishek, visibly engaging with local spiritual traditions.

Once inside the wildlife centre, Messi embarked on a guided tour of Vantara’s extensive facilities, designed for the care of rescued animals such as big cats, elephants, herbivores and reptiles.

He met veterinarians and conservation teams, observed rehabilitation efforts up close, and fed animals including giraffes, rhinos and elephants, highlighting the centre’s focus on compassionate wildlife welfare.

A particularly memorable moment saw Messi engage in a playful football activity with Maniklal, a rescued elephant calf, delighting onlookers and symbolising a touching cross-species connection through sport. In a special gesture recognising Messi’s visit, Anant and Radhika Ambani named a lion cub “Lionel” in his honour, a tribute that captured global public imagination.

Messi expressed admiration for Vantara’s mission, describing the work of the centre as “truly beautiful” and emphasising his appreciation for the care and respect shown to every animal. He also signalled a desire to return in the future to support and promote conservation efforts further.

The visit, widely shared on social media and highlighted by viral visuals, blended sport, culture and conservation, adding a unique cultural chapter to Messi’s India tour while shining a spotlight on India’s wildlife rescue and rehabilitation initiatives.

SOURCES: Reuters, The Times of India, NDTV