In Pictures: Anant Ambani hosts Lionel Messi at Vantara as star footballer performs Hindu rituals

Lionel Messi ended his GOAT India Tour with a special visit to the Vantara, a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre, where he was given a guided tour by Anant Ambani, the Executive Director of Reliance Industries. The 2022 World Cup winner, Messi, was accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.

Inarguably one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi toured Indian cities of Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi before visiting Vantara, which is situated in the Jamnagar district of Gujarat.

Vantara was founded by Anant Ambani, and it opened earlier this year. It’s a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation center that offers advanced care to rescued animals from around the world, with a major focus on elephants, big cats and birds. It features facilities such as a mega kitchen to feed the animals and advanced care facilities, including CT scans and more. It spans a 3,500-acre area.

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Messi was welcomed to the facility personally by Anant Ambani, who felicitated the star footballer and gave him a guided tour of the facility.

Messi also visited a temple in Vantara, where he was seen taking part in Hindu rituals. The pictures of Messi doing the Maha Aarti and bowing down to Hindu Gods have since gone viral on social media.

Anant Ambani’s wife, Radhika Merchant, was also present at Vantara during Messi’s visit as the footballer learnt about the conservation methods, including the stories of how the animals were rescued, the rehabilitation process and the long-term goals of the facility.

Messi’s visit to Vantara would have been incomplete without meeting the rescued animals, who have now become an integral part of the facility. The Argentine footballer was clicked with some big cats, one of whom is reportedly named Lionel.

The legendary footballer was also seen feeding a rhino during his visit to Vantara, giving a glimpse of how rare the occasion must have been for the athlete, and how much he would have enjoyed it.

Messi was extremely impressed with the work that is being done at Vantara. “What Vantara does is truly beautiful, the work for animals, the care they receive, the way they are rescued and looked after," Messi said.

“It is genuinely impressive. 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.”