Climate activists from Futuro Vegetal spray-painted Lionel Messi's mansion in Ibiza to draw attention to the "responsibility of the rich for the climate crisis.
" The protest occurred near Cala Tarida on Ibiza's western coast, where campaigners displayed a banner reading, "Help the Planet—Eat the Rich—Abolish the Police," before covering the mansion's white facade with red and black paint.
Futuro Vegetal's statement emphasized that the wealthy are responsible for the climate crisis. They cited a 2023 Oxfam report revealing that the richest 1% of the global population produced the same carbon emissions in 2019 as the poorest two-thirds, despite the most vulnerable communities suffering the worst consequences.
Lionel Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami in the US, purchased the property in 2022 for around €11 million ($12 million) from a Swiss businessman. The mansion, which includes luxury amenities such as a spa, sauna, and cinema room, was criticized for lacking a certificate of occupancy due to several unlicensed constructions, as reported by Spanish media.
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Futuro Vegetal has a history of similar protests, including a notable 2022 incident where activists glued their hands to paintings by Francisco de Goya at Madrid's Prado Museum. Last year, they also spray-painted a superyacht in Ibiza, reportedly owned by Nancy Walton Laurie, the billionaire heiress of Walmart.
Spanish police reported in January the arrest of 22 Futuro Vegetal members, including the two involved in the Prado protest and the group's top three leaders.
