MUMBAI – Argentine football legend Lionel Messi concluded his India tour with a rare gift from billionaire heir Anant Ambani. The ultra-luxury Richard Mille watch reportedly costs slightly less than Messi’s $1.7 million monthly salary at Inter Miami.
The gift was presented during Messi’s visit to the Vantara wildlife conservation and rehabilitation centre, founded by Anant Ambani. Messi was given a tour of the facility, highlighting the organisation’s animal welfare initiatives. Social media users were quick to notice that Messi arrived without a watch but later appeared wearing the exclusive timepiece.
During the visit, Messi met a lion cub named “Lionel” in his honour and played football with Maniklal, a baby elephant. The playful interactions quickly went viral on social media, showcasing a lighter side of the superstar.
The gifted watch, a Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon “Asia Edition,” is one of only 12 pieces made globally. Indian media reported that Anant Ambani personally presented the watch to Messi, symbolising both luxury and exclusivity. Despite its high value, the watch is still below Messi’s monthly earnings of $1.7 million, according to data from the MLS Players Association.
Messi’s three-day GOAT India Tour covered Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and New Delhi. It marked his first visit to India in 14 years and included appearances with Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul.
The tour began with chaos at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, where fans threw objects and invaded the pitch after Messi made only a brief appearance. Tickets for the event ranged from $38.65 to $130, exceeding half the average weekly income in India.
In Hyderabad, Messi played an exhibition match with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and met opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. In Mumbai, he shared a memorable moment with football legend Sunil Chhetri and received a Team India jersey from cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Messi’s final stop at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium was calm, where ICC Chairman Jay Shah presented him and his teammates with Indian cricket jerseys and tickets to the T20 World Cup India-USA match.
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The gift from Anant Ambani highlighted his growing influence in philanthropy and luxury circles, while Messi’s India tour captivated fans across multiple cities.
