Lionel Messi’s recent visit to India culminated in a moment that blended philanthropy, culture, and quiet luxury, far from stadiums and spotlights. This visit was nothing short of momentous, both culturally and sartorially.
Returning to the country after a 14-year gap, Messi’s December 2025 stopover marked only his second trip to India since 2011. This time, the journey was broader and more symbolic, with stops across Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, cementing what fans have dubbed his “GOAT Tour” of India.
The most talked-about moment, however, unfolded at Vantara, in Jamnagar. This wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre is a philanthropic initiative by the Reliance Foundation, dedicated to providing sanctuary and long-term care to rescued and abused animals.
Messi, accompanied by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, was welcomed in grand traditional style at Vantara and was received in style with folk music, floral showers, and ceremonial aarti. They participated in traditional Hindu rituals and interacted closely with conservation teams.
It was during this meeting that the Ambani family’s art of gifting revealed itself in a subtle yet powerful moment. Midway through the visit, he was spotted wearing one of the rarest timepieces in modern haute horology: the Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon “Asia Edition.”
This Tourbillon Timepiece is a milestone in contemporary watchmaking. Introduced as an evolution of the brand’s early experiments, the RM 003 was among the first Richard Mille models to integrate a second time zone into a skeletonised tourbillon movement, making it both technically ambitious and visually arresting. The Asia Edition gifted to Messi is crafted using a carbon nanofibre baseplate, a material prized for its extreme lightness, shock resistance and aerospace-grade durability. The watch was presented with a customisable strap, underscoring the personalised nature of the gift.
Its distinctive GMT function is displayed via a sapphire crystal disc, an ingenious mechanism that causes the second time zone numerals to appear almost invisible until they align with a white aperture, where they suddenly come alive. This optical illusion, combined with the exposed mechanics of the skeleton dial, creates a sense of motion even when the watch is at rest. Housed in a black carbon case and produced in a strictly limited run of just 12 pieces worldwide, the RM 003-V2 is a coveted collector’s item, commanding a price of approximately $1.2 million (INR 1,08,50,300,000 approx) a fitting symbol of precision, rarity and modern luxury.
The Ambanis’ Signature Language of Watch Gifting
However, this was far from a one-off. The gesture reflects Anant Ambani’s well-known approach to gifting rare timepieces from Maisons such as Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Richard Mille to his inner circle.
His watch gifting previously made headlines during his wedding celebrations, where he reportedly presented custom Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches, limited to just 25 pieces, to close friends and groomsmen, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Vicky Kaushal.
For the Ambanis, gifting is never incidental. By choosing an ultra-rare Richard Mille for Lionel Messi, Anant Ambani once again underscored a legacy where luxury, meaning, and modern cultural diplomacy converge seamlessly.
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