Environmental activists defaced Lionel Messi’s luxurious Ibiza mansion with red and black paint, sparking a diplomatic disagreement between Spain and Argentina.
Members of the Futuro Vegetal eco group, who were responsible for the vandalism, were seen holding banners with slogans such as “help the planet, eat the rice, and abolish the police,” as reported by Express. They also shared images of the graffiti-covered mansion on their Instagram account, accompanied by a caption condemning the property.
“The mansion is an illegal construction that the footballer acquired for the exorbitant amount of €11 million.
Meanwhile, in the Balearic Islands, between two and four people have died as a direct consequence of the heat wave,” the caption read.
In response to the incident, Argentinian President Javier Milei spoke with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, urging the protection of Argentine citizens, according to Spanish radio station COPE.
Milei also expressed his concerns on his X handle (formerly known as Twitter), sympathizing with Messi’s family. “I sympathize with the Messi family for this cowardly and senseless act, and I call on the government of Pedro Sánchez to ensure the safety of Argentine citizens living in Spain,” he stated.
The Argentine leader went further, labeling the climate change activists as “communists” and criticizing their actions. “Communism is an ideology fueled by envy, hatred, and resentment towards the successful. It has no place in a free and civilized world,” he added.
Messi, who purchased the San Josep property in 2022, is a frequent visitor to the island with his family.
