Anant Ambani to host Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez at Vantara

Lionel Messi (AFP)

Football legend Lionel Messi is expected to visit the Vantara wildlife and rescue centre in Jamnagar on Monday before wrapping up his GOAT India Tour.

Reliance Industries’ Executive Director and Vantara’s founder Anant Ambani will host Messi and his Inter Miami teammates at the sprawling centre. The football legends are expected to stay at the Jamnagar facility overnight, ANI has reported.

Messi and his teammates will be the latest in a long list of global dignitaries to visit the expansive wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility.

Last month, Donald Trump Jr, son of US President Donald Trump, visited Vantara and praised its scale, vision and commitment to wildlife conservation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also toured the centre earlier this year.

Earlier today, Messi enthralled fans in New Delhi during the final stop of his ongoing GOAT India Tour 2025. He arrived in the national capital under tight security after a successful event in Mumbai on December 14.

Vantara, which has been certified under Global Humane Society’s animal welfare programme, combines care for animals outside their natural habitats with conservation efforts in native ecosystems. Its work includes rescue, rehabilitation, research, captive breeding and reintroduction of threatened species, according to the organisation.

It includes a state-of-the-art animal hospital and research centre spanning over one lakh square feet, equipped with MRI and CT scan units, an ICU, endoscopy suites, dialysis support, and advanced OR1 surgical technology.