Videos showing Lionel Messi performing puja and participating in Hindu rituals have circulated widely online.
Football star Lionel Messi’s visit to Vantara’s conservation ecosystem has been making the headlines for a while, but what caught most eyeballs is the Argentine athlete performing Maha Aarti at the temple and taking part in Hindu rituals.
In the videos, Messi and his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, c
ould be seen participating 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.
#WATCH | Global football icon Lionel Messi had 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. pic.twitter.com/i3Y8j0ZxeX
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2025
At the centre, initiatives traditionally begin with seeking blessings in accordance with Sanatana Dharma, which emphasises reverence for nature and respect for all living beings.
Messi’s visit reflected this cultural ethos as he participated in traditional Hindu rituals, observed wildlife and interacted with caregivers and conservation teams. His engagements during the visit reflected the humility and humanitarian values for which he is widely recognised.
in a thousand years I wouldn’t have imagined messi saying jai mata dii 😭😭 holy based pic.twitter.com/kjHEPMPdLj
— sierra🇮🇳 (@sierraoperator) December 17, 2025
They highlighted the warm bond and friendship he shares with Anant Ambani, rooted in a shared commitment to wildlife conservation.
Following the puja, 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, witnessed real-time clinical and surgical procedures, and later fed the okapis, rhinos, giraffes and elephants.
With ANI inputs
