Lionel's Messi's £9.5million mansion vandalised after protestors break in

Lionel Messi has become the latest high-profile victim to be targeted by climate change activists after the Inter Miami star’s £9.5million luxury mansion was vandalised.

Activists from the Futuro Vegetal group are said to have entered the Argentina icon’s home in Ibiza on Tuesday, throwing red and black paint at the exterior of the house.

The Spanish group also unfurled a banner that read ‘Help the Planet – Eat the Rich – Abolish the Police’ and took responsibility for the attack, criticising Spain’s environmental policies “that aggravate the climate crisis, as well as the unequal responsibility for it.”

The former Barcelona and PSG star has been a regular visitor to the Balaeric Island over the years along with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo and their three children.

He purchased the property in the area of San Josep, based in Cala Tarida on Ibiza’s western coast, for £9.5m from Swiss businessman Philippe Amon in 2022.

Messi also owns a stunning 52-room hotel called Hotel Es Vive along the Figueretas beach after purchasing the luxury property in 2018.

Futuro Vegetal, an activist group that links tourism and overpopulation to climate change, claim that the 37-year-old’s home was targeted due to being “an illegal construction” that the footballer “acquired for the exorbitant sum of 11 million euros.”

“This is just another example of how the law does not work the same for everyone,” Futuro Vegetal spokesperson Bilbo Bassaterra said.

“This week on the island [of Ibiza], almost 200 workers were evicted from a settlement with no housing solution, while the Popular Party, hand in hand with Vox, is planning the legalisation of illegal buildings in exchange for payment.”

Messi has been enjoying an extended break from club action after helping Argentina retain their Copa America title in the United States. He is yet to publicly respond to the attack.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is also recovering from an ankle injury picked up in the final of that tournament, with no official date set for his return.

Inter Miami are sitting top of the Eastern Conference in MLS after 16 games, with a League Cup clash against Toronto FC to come later this week.