Lionel Messi and Anant Ambani come from worlds apart: one is football’s global icon, the other the youngest son of India’s richest family. Yet during Messi’s recent India visit, a shared obsession quietly took centre stage — an extraordinary love for rare, high-end watches.

Both are recognised watch collectors, known for wearing some of the most exclusive timepieces ever made. Their meeting in India offered a rare glimpse into how passion for horology connects two vastly different lives.

A watch moment during Messi’s India visit

During his visit to India earlier this week, Messi visited Vantara, the wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani. Reports say Messi arrived without a watch on his wrist but left wearing one of the rarest Richard Mille timepieces in existence.

Ambani is said to have gifted Messi a one-of-12 Richard Mille RM 003 Asia Boutique tourbillon, valued at over $1.2 million. The watch features a carbon black and grey bezel, white skeletonised hands and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. The moment stood out not only for the gift itself, but also for what Ambani was wearing.

Photographs from the visit show Ambani sporting an even rarer piece — the Richard Mille RM 056 Sapphire Tourbillon. Custom-built in an orange hue, the watch is estimated to be worth around $5 million. He had earlier worn the same watch while accepting the Global Humanitarian Award for Animal Welfare in Washington DC on December 8, becoming the first Asian to receive the honour.

Inside Anant Ambani’s extraordinary watch vault

Anant Ambani’s passion for horology is widely known. He is often seen wearing rare creations from Richard Mille, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet.

Among the standout pieces in his collection is the Richard Mille RM 52-04 “Skull” Blue Sapphire, a one-of-a-kind model with only three ever made, valued at around ₹22 crore. His most expensive watch to date is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, worn at Reliance Family Day, with a market value of roughly ₹66.5 crore after taking over 100,000 hours to develop.

His collection also includes a diamond-paved Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore worth about ₹3.05 crore, ultra-rare Patek Philippe Nautilus models priced around ₹11 crore, and high jewellery pieces such as a ₹9 million Patek Philippe Aquanaut ‘Haute Joaillerie’ and a one-of-36 Richard Mille Dragon & Phoenix worth roughly $5 million.

Messi’s watches: football fame meets haute horology

Off the pitch, Messi is equally serious about watches. He owns one of the most expensive collections among footballers, with iconic Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jacob & Co. and Tudor pieces.

His collection includes rare Rolex models such as the discontinued pink Oyster Perpetual and the off-catalogue “Barbie” Daytona, valued at around $2 million. He has also worn the “Tiffany Blue” Patek Philippe Nautilus, worth over $1.6 million.

In 2025 alone, Messi has been spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Cubitus, multiple Audemars Piguet Royal Oak tourbillons, a Jacob & Co. Epic-X Tourbillon linked to FC Barcelona, and a colourful Tudor Black Bay Chrono in “Flamingo Blue”.