Footie with elephant, bonding with big cats, prayers: Memorable moments from Messi's Vantara visit | Watch

During the visit, Messi toured Vantara’s conservation ecosystem, which houses rescued big cats, elephants, herbivores, reptiles and fostered animals.

Memorable and heartfelt videos from Lionel Messi’s visit to Vantara, the Jamnagar-based wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, capture the football legend and his teammates bonding with animals and taking part in traditional prayers.

In the video, Messi is seen gently kicking a football with elephants in the background, bringing smiles to the faces of caregivers and visitors. It also captures him playfully posing for photographs with tigers and lions. Additionally, the video features Messi and his teammates participating in prayers and performing puja at a Shivling, offering a quiet and reflective moment during their visit.

#WATCH | Sports meets spirituality at Vantara: A Glimpse of Lionel Messi’s Unique Moments With Anant Ambani 🌿⚽🕉️

Football legend Lionel Messi performs Shiv Abhishek, chants sacred mantras and even plays football with animals during his visit to Anant Ambani’s Vantara — a rare… pic.twitter.com/PxCa6PyRWv — Moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) December 17, 2025

Reliance Industries Executive Director and Vantara founder Anant Ambani hosted Messi, along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, at the centre. During the visit, Messi toured Vantara’s conservation ecosystem, which houses rescued big cats, elephants, herbivores, reptiles and fostered animals. He was briefed on animal welfare practices, including specialised veterinary care, nutrition and rehabilitation protocols.

In a gesture marking the visit, Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani named a lion cub “Lionel” in honour of the football legend.

After the visit, 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.”

Messi wrapped up his much-anticipated G.O.A.T. India Tour on Monday after his final stop in Delhi. The three-day visit began in Kolkata, followed by stops in Hyderabad and Mumbai, before concluding in the national capital.