In his GOAT Tour, Messi started with a chaotic visit to Kolkata, followed by memorable events in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi….reports Asian Lite News
Global football icon Lionel Messi wrapped up his GOAT Tour 2025 with a special visit to Vantara, a wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani, near Jamnagar in Gujarat. Messi’s visit reflected this cultural ethos as he participated in traditional Hindu rituals, observed wildlife, and interacted with caregivers and conservation teams at the centre.
His engagements during the visit reflected the humility and humanitarian values for which he is widely recognised, and highlighted the warm bond and friendship he shares with Anant Ambani, rooted in a shared commitment to wildlife conservation.
Accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, the Argentine legend was welcomed in grand traditional style with vibrant folk music, a showering of flowers symbolising blessings and purity of intent, and a ceremonial aarti.
In his GOAT Tour, Messi started with a chaotic visit to Kolkata, followed by memorable events in Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
The football legend, who guided Argentina to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, also participated in a Maha Aarti at the temple, including 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.
Following the welcome, 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.
At the care centre for lions, leopards, tigers, and other endangered species, 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. From a global perspective, he also praised the commitment of the Prime Minister of India to advancing wildlife care and conservation in the country.
At the Foster Care Centre, dedicated to orphaned and vulnerable young animals, Messi learned about their journeys of resilience. In a heartfelt gesture, Anant Ambani and Radhika Ambani together named a lion cub “Lionel,” a name that now represents hope and continuity, given in honour of the football legend.
The highlight of the tour came at the Elephant Care Centre, where Messi met Maniklal, a rescued elephant calf saved along with his ailing mother, Prathima, from harsh labour in the logging industry two years ago. In a moment that captured hearts across the centre, Messi engaged in an impromptu football enrichment activity with Maniklal, demonstrating the universal language of play. The calf responded enthusiastically to the activity, making playful moves that showcased his own emerging skills, marking one of the most memorable moments of Messi’s visit to India.
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.”
As the visit came to a close, Messi participated in Nariyal Utsarg and Matka Phod, traditional rituals symbolising goodwill and auspicious beginnings. The ceremony concluded with chants for peace and well-being, underscoring the shared values that align Vantara’s mission with Messi’s global legacy.
Messi, who leads the Leo Messi Foundation dedicated to social causes, education, healthcare, and children’s welfare worldwide, expressed a deep sense of alignment with Vantara’s purpose and appreciation for its vision of compassionate, science-driven care for animals.
‘Thank You India’
Argentina football icon Lionel Messi thanked India for its love and affection following the conclusion of his ‘GOAT India Tour’, which saw chaos and some memorable crossovers trending nationwide.
After a trip to Kolkata and Hyderabad on December 13, followed by a visit to Mumbai the next day, Messi’s India tour concluded with a visit to Delhi on Monday.
Taking to his Instagram, Messi wrote, “Namaste India! What incredible visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Thanks for the warm welcome, great hospitality and all the expressions of love throughout my tour. I hope football has a bright future in India!”
ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented jerseys of the Indian Cricket team to star footballers Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Monday.
Football icon Messi’s Delhi visit took another memorable chapter as he met Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) President Rohan Jaitley, alongside his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo de Paul and Luis Suarez, who were also a part of Messi’s tour.
The interaction between Lionel Messi and Shah was a warm exchange of gestures, with the ICC Chairman presenting Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul with Indian cricket team jerseys, symbolising the convergence of two of India’s most beloved sports. Messi also received a special autographed cricket bat from Shah, making the moment a unique fusion of football and cricketing heritage.
Messi received jersey number 10, Suarez got number 9, and de Paul was presented with number 7, all with their names on them. Shah extended an invitation to Messi for the upcoming T20 World Cup, presenting him with a ticket to the event, making it a standout moment in Messi’s final leg of the G.O.A.T. India Tour.
Messi, Suarez and De Paul entered Arun Jaitley Stadium to a deafening roar from the crowd. Messi, as seen in the previous legs of the tour, has a kickabout with the youngsters present at the ground. Messi and his teammates took turns kicking footballs into the crowd, with each kick getting a louder roar than the previous one.
Messi’s Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour descended into chaos on Saturday as fans who paid high ticket prices at Salt Lake Stadium’s event began throwing bottles and attempting to break the gates between the stands after the Argentine legend left early.
The Argentine football legend arrived in the City of Joy early on Saturday morning to an overwhelming reception from fans. Enthusiastic supporters gathered in large numbers across key locations in Kolkata, eager to catch a glimpse of the global football icon, reflecting the immense popularity Messi enjoys in the country, particularly in West Bengal.
While the moment was supposed to be a moment of union between the World Cup-winning superstar and a football-crazy state, the presence of VIPs and politicians on the pitch with Messi sent fans into frenzy as they could barely catch a glimpse of the footballer for whom they had paid their hard-earned money.
However, Messi’s visit to Hyderabad was a fun experience for everyone involved. He took part in a 7-on-7 exhibition football match featuring the state’s Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy, soaked up the love from a passionate, loud audience, and met the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
Similarly, it was a memorable day for cricket and football fans alike present at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. Messi, along with footballers Suarez and De Paul, dazzled fans at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The event at Wankhede got off to an electric start, with the famous Indian DJ Chetas setting the mood by playing popular tracks alongside vibrant cultural dance performances.
This was followed by a friendly football match between the Indian Stars, featuring Tiger Shroff, Jim Sarbh, and players such as Bala Devi, and the Mitra Stars, led by the legendary Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri and his Bengaluru FC teammates.
Messi also shared a hug with Chhetri, a picture that resonated with millions of Indian football fans.
The event concluded on a historic note when former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar presented Messi with a Team India jersey, followed by memorable photographs featuring Tendulkar, Fadnavis, Messi, and his teammates.
