Lionel Messi experienced the darker side of fame when his villa in Ibiza became the target of a break-in and vandalism by the climate activist group Futuro Vegetal.
Two members of the group snuck onto the Argentine captain's property and left their mark by throwing red and white paint across the estate. The damage was highlighted with a banner that read: “Help the Planet – Eat the Rich – Abolish the Police.” Futuro Vegetal stated: “The wealthiest 1% of the world’s population generated the same amount of carbon emissions in 2019 as the poorest two-thirds of humanity, despite the fact that the most vulnerable communities are the ones suffering the worst consequences of the crisis.”
According to Forbes, Messi is worth $600 million. He purchased his beautiful villa on the island for €11 million, which environmental activists claim is an illegal construction. Allegedly, Messi did not have the completion certificate issued by the San José City Council. On their social media, Futuro Vegetal emphasized that “institutions serve a small ruling class and do not represent the will of the people.”
The Inter Miami star regularly visits his home with his wife and three children. This incident will surely open his eyes, if not to climate change, then at least to take security issues more seriously. Futuro Vegetal is notoriously known for causing damage to the property of the ultra-wealthy.
Last year, the same group vandalized the yacht Chaos, which belongs to Walmart heiress Nancy Walton. Reportedly, they vandalized the $300 million yacht not once, but twice, using biodegradable paint to highlight their message. While the environmental activists focused on the 37-year-old player’s villa in Ibiza, there’s no doubt that his carbon footprint is significant.
Messi took 52 private flights in just three months at the beginning of 2022. This resulted in more CO2 emissions than an average person would produce in 150 years. Let’s hope they don’t shift their focus to his planes next.
