Anant Ambani Gifts Lionel Messi a Rs 9.94 Cr Watch During His Visit to Vantara
Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi’s recent visit to India turned into a spectacle that went far beyond football.
From traditional rituals to conservation-focused interactions, the Argentine icon’s time at Vantara, the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre founded by Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), was marked by warmth, culture and quiet intrigue.
Messi arrived at the expansive conservation facility accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.
The trio received a traditional welcome, complete with folk music, ceremonial aarti and a shower of flower petals.
As Messi toured the premises and interacted with caregivers and wildlife protection teams, the focus remained firmly on conservation and cultural exchange.
Messi was seen wearing an exceptionally rare Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon ‘Asia Edition,’ a collector’s piece limited to just 12 units worldwide.
The timepiece is estimated to be worth around $1.1 million, or approximately Rs 9.94 crore, and was gifted to him by Anant Ambani during the visit.
Considered one of Richard Mille’s earliest and most iconic creations, the RM 003-V2 features a manual-winding tourbillon movement along with dual time zones, power reserve and torque indicators.
Its 38-mm tripartite case is crafted from Carbon TPT, a high-performance material developed for aerospace engineering and Formula 1 racing, paired with a skeletonised dial and titanium baseplate.
During his visit to Vantara, Messi took part in traditional Hindu rituals, toured the conservation facilities, and interacted with caregivers and wildlife protection teams.
The football icon also participated in a Maha Aarti at the temple, performing Ambe Mata Puja, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Puja and Shiv Abhishek, where he offered prayers for global peace and harmony.
