Indian billionaire gifts Lionel Messi $1.3m rare watch

Indian billionaire Anant Ambani reportedly presented Argentine football icon Lionel Messi with a rare wristwatch valued at about $1.3 million during the player’s recent trip to India.

According to reports, Ambani gifted the Inter Miami forward a Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Asian Edition. The watch is described as one of the rarest models produced by the brand, with only 12 pieces made worldwide.

The timepiece features a black carbon fibre casing and an open-worked dial that allows a clear view of its intricate internal movement. Images showing Messi wearing the watch quickly spread across social media platforms, with reports stating that the footballer accepted the gift “with great pleasure.”

Messi’s visit to India also drew massive crowds, particularly in Kolkata. However, the atmosphere reportedly turned tense at Salt Lake Stadium after the football star appeared briefly for around 20 minutes before leaving the venue.

Some fans reacted angrily to what they described as poor arrangements, throwing chairs and bottles inside the stadium. Security officials intervened, and Messi was escorted out along with his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul to prevent any possible harm.