Activists break into Lionel Messi's mansion to send ominous message to Inter Miami star

One of Lionel Messi's mansions has been broken into and vandalised by activists.

Inter Miami star Messi, 37, owns a number of properties across the globe, including a £8.45m mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

He bought the property back in September, several months after signing for David Beckham's MLS franchise.

Naturally, his other properties are largely vacant while he is in the United States and activists have taken advantage of this to stage a protest at one that he owns in Ibiza.

Climate activist group Futuro Vegetal targeted Messi's £9m mansion on the Spanish island, claiming it is an "illegal construction".

Activists broke into the villa this week and painted the property red and black, sharing photos of their act on social media.

Two members of the group were pictured holding up a banner with the message "Help the planet, eat the rich, abolish the police".

Explaining their reasoning for breaking into Argentina star's property, Futuro Vegetal posted on X: "We tinted Messi's illegal mansion in Ibiza.

"The Mansion is an illegal construction that the footballer acquired for the exorbitant sum of 11 million euros.

"While this is happening, in the Balearic Islands alone between 2 and 4 people have died as a direct consequence of the heat wave.

"The richest 1% of the population is responsible for the same amount of carbon emissions as the poorest two-thirds. This is only possible because public authorities support an economic-social system that threatens life.

"While the far right blames migrants for the crisis and displays extreme violence against them, those of us who fight for a better world are clear that the problem is social inequality.

"Let's tackle the problems at the root. We need a radical change of system to face the Climate Crisis."

Messi is currently on a break away from football after helping Argentina retain their Copa America title in the United States.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is recovering from an ankle injury picked up against Colombia in the final of that tournament. with no official return date set for the former Barcelona and PSG star.