Leo Messi‘s recent visit to India not only left lasting images due to its social impact, but also because of the impressive gesture of hospitality from the country’s most powerful family. The Argentine star, who traveled with his friends and Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, was the guest of honor at Vantara, a world leader in wildlife conservation.
The host of the expedition was Anant Ambani, the youngest son of India’s biggest tycoon, who wanted to seal the visit with a gift worthy of the football legend
The amazing million-dollar gift Messi received in India
While everyone wanted to be with Messi on this trip, few could. One of the privileged few was Ambani, who not only took the striker on a complete tour, but also left him with an unforgettable memory.
Ambani gave Messi a Richard Mille RM 003 V2 ‘Asia Edition’ watch, a piece of high-end watchmaking whose exclusivity is as extreme as its price: it is valued at approximately $1.1 million (just over one million dollars).Beyond the luxury, the day was also marked by moments of great emotional impact. Messi had the opportunity to learn about the work of wildlife rehabilitation at the center founded by Ambani. One of the most viral moments occurred when the “10” improvised a soccer match with Maniklal, a small elephant calf rescued from labor exploitation in the timber industry.
The connection between the footballer and the project was such that the founders, Anant and his wife Radhika Ambani, decided to pay permanent tribute to the Argentine star: they named a rescued lion cub “Lionel”, a gesture that symbolises the hope and strength of the conservation centre.
Messi’s reaction after visiting the sanctuary
During his tour of the green energy facilities and big cat sanctuaries, Messi was visibly impressed by the magnitude of the Ambani’s sustainable work.
“What Vantara does is truly beautiful. The care the animals receive and the way they are rescued is amazing,” said the Argentina captain. “It’s an experience that stays with you and we’ll surely be back to support this work,” Messi added.
The visit of the Inter Miami delegation to this ecosystem, which protects everything from reptiles to orphaned elephants, reaffirms the soccer player’s commitment to environmental causes, taking back to Miami not only a collector’s watch, but also a human experience that is already going around the world.
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