Messi meets Lionel and other rescued animals in Vantara, performs Aarti at temple: 'It is genuinely impressive'

Messi was impressed by the facilities for rescued animals in Vantara as he paid a special visit to the wildlife rescue and conservation centre in Gujarat’s Jamnagar before flying out of India. The Argentinian superstar met a lot of rescued animals at the centre which is founded and run by Anant Ambani and also participated in traditional rituals.

Messi was on a three-day tour of India which ended Monday in Delhi and after that he went to Vantara where he stayed overnight before leaving the country. He was accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul for the entire tour and the duo was also in Vantara with Messi.

Messi participates in rituals

The football legend also participated in a Maha Aarti at the temple in Vantara, which included Ambe Mata Puja, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Puja and Shiv Abhishek, offering prayers for world peace and unity in keeping with India’s timeless ethos of reverence for all living beings.

Messi embarked on a guided tour of Vantara’s expansive conservation ecosystem, home to rescued big cats, elephants, herbivores, reptiles and fostered young animals from across the globe. He also visited the green energy complex and the world’s largest refinery complex, where he expressed amazement at the scale and vision behind the operations.

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In Pictures: Anant Ambani hosts Lionel Messi at Vantara as star footballer performs Hindu rituals Lionel Messi to visit Vantara for overnight stay before leaving India

Messi interacted with animals thriving in enriched, naturalistic environments, many of whom approached him with curiosity. He then visited the Herbivore Care Centre and the Reptile Care Centre, where he observed animals flourishing under specialised veterinary care, customised nutrition, behavioural training and husbandry protocols that reflect Vantara’s global leadership in wildlife welfare. During the visit, he also toured the multi speciality wildlife hospital, witnessing real time clinical and surgical procedures, and later fed the okapis, rhinos, giraffes and elephants.

Messi meets Lionel

In a heartfelt gesture, Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani together named a lion cub “Lionel". Messi had a good time at the centre and he also played a little bit of football with Maniklal, a rescued elephant calf saved along with his ailing mother Prathima from harsh labour in the logging industry two years ago.

Responding in Spanish to Anant Ambani thanking him for visiting Vantara and inspiring everyone selflessly toward animals and mankind, Messi said, “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. 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.”