Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Messi Visits Vantara, Honors Animals and Culture
Lionel Messi, along with his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul, visited Vantara, a wildlife rescue and conservation centre in Gujarat, India.
Messi was impressed by the facilities and the care given to the rescued animals.
He met various animals, including a lion cub named 'Lionel' in his honor, and participated in traditional rituals at the temple in Vantara.
Messi also toured the conservation ecosystem and expressed his admiration for the work being done at Vantara.
Additionally, Messi released a video of his 'GOAT India Tour,' which notably excluded footage from the Salt Lake Stadium event in Kolkata due to administrative mismanagement and fan unrest.
Messi chanted 'Jai Mata Di' during a Maha Aarti, showing his spiritual side.
Lionel Messi visited Vantara, a wildlife rescue and conservation centre in Gujarat, India, accompanied by his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul.
Messi was impressed by the facilities and the care given to rescued animals, including big cats, elephants, herbivores, reptiles, and fostered young animals.
He participated in a Maha Aarti at the temple in Vantara, offering prayers for world peace and unity, and chanted 'Jai Mata Di'.
Messi interacted with animals, toured the conservation ecosystem, and expressed his admiration for the work being done at Vantara.
A lion cub was named 'Lionel' in Messi's honor, and he played a little football with a rescued elephant calf named Maniklal.
- Who
- Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Rodrigo de Paul, Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant
- What
- Visit to Vantara wildlife rescue and conservation centre, participation in rituals, interaction with animals
- When
- Three-day tour ending Monday in Delhi, overnight stay at Vantara
- Where
- Vantara, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
- Why
- To explore wildlife conservation efforts and participate in cultural rituals
- Location
- Vantara, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India
- Duration
- Overnight stay
- Accompanied by
- Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul
- Activities
- Met rescued animals, participated in rituals, toured conservation ecosystem
- Named Animal
- Lion cub named 'Lionel'
- Messi's Reaction
- Impressed by facilities, expressed desire to visit again
- Video Omission
- Salt Lake Stadium event excluded from commemorative video
- Fan Unrest
- Chaos and vandalism reported at Kolkata event
- Hosts
- Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant
- Spiritual Activity
- Chanted 'Jai Mata Di' during Maha Aarti
Sources
Messi skips Salt Lake Stadium in India tour, video features Mumbai, Delhi
Messi meets Lionel and other rescued animals in Vantara, performs Aarti at temple: 'It is genuinely impressive'
Rahul Vaidya asks Indians to learn how to 'own language & culture' from Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi Visits Vantara Wildlife Centre In Jamnagar, Meets Anant Ambani | Videos
Lionel Messi chants ‘Jai Mata Di’ at Vantara with Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant; Rodrigo de Paul watches in awe; video
Lionel Messi Chants 'Jai Mata Di', 'Har Har Mahadev'; Prays 'Om Namay Shivay' And Performs Shiv Abhishek - Watch
In Pictures: Anant Ambani hosts Lionel Messi at Vantara as star footballer performs Hindu rituals
Lionel Messi joins Anant Ambani at Vantara for aarti, chants ‘Jai Mata Di’ in viral video: WATCH
Watch: Messi performs puja with Anant Ambani during his Vantara visit
WATCH: Messi plays football with baby elephant at Anant Ambani's Vantara during India tour
