Messi Gifted Ultra-Rare Rs 11 Crore Richard Mille Watch During India Visit

Football icon Lionel Messi received an ultra-luxury timepiece worth nearly ₹11 crore during his recent visit to India, marking one of the most talked-about moments of his maiden “GOAT Tour” of the country.

After completing appearances in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi, Messi visited Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre founded by Anant Ambani. During the visit, the Argentine football legend was gifted a Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon “Asia Edition”, one of the rarest watches produced by the Swiss luxury brand.

The watch, valued at approximately ₹10.9 crore, is limited to just 12 pieces worldwide, placing it among the most exclusive Richard Mille models ever made. Observers noted that Messi arrived at the event without wearing a watch and was later seen sporting the RM 003-V2, sparking widespread attention on social media and among watch enthusiasts.

According to reports, the RM 003-V2 features a manual-winding tourbillon movement with displays for hours, minutes and a dual time-zone (GMT) indicator. It also includes a power-reserve indicator, torque indicator, and a function selector, all showcased on a skeletonised dial.

The 38 mm case is crafted from Carbon TPT, a high-performance material originally developed for aerospace and Formula 1 applications, combined with a titanium baseplate. One of the standout design elements is its sapphire disc, which creates an illusion of illuminated black numerals against a white background at the 3 o’clock position.

The tourbillon mechanism is designed to improve timekeeping accuracy by counteracting the effects of gravity, while an innovative crown-integrated pusher allows the wearer to switch between winding, neutral and time-setting modes.

The Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon is owned by a select group of global elites, including Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, Formula 1 driver Mick Schumacher, former Ferrari team principal Jean Todt, Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim, and renowned watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.

Messi’s India visit, marked by packed appearances and high-profile engagements, further strengthened his global appeal beyond football, with the luxury watch gift becoming a standout highlight of the tour.