NEW DELHI: Climate activists from the group Futuro Vegetal spray-painted the mansion of Argentina football star Lionel Messi on Tuesday, aiming to highlight the "responsibility of the rich for the climate crisis." The activists displayed a banner before covering the building with red and black paint.
In a dramatic protest, campaigners released a video showing two members standing in front of Messi's house near Cala Tarida on Ibiza's western coast. The activists held a banner that read: "Help the Planet -- Eat the Rich -- Abolish the Police" before spraying the white facade of the building, AFP reported.
The group explained that their actions were intended to underscore the impact of wealthy individuals on the climate crisis. They targeted Messi's mansion, calling it an "illegal construction" and pointing out its lack of a certificate of occupancy due to unlicensed room additions.
Futuro Vegetal cited a 2023 Oxfam report, which found that the richest one percent of the global population generated as much carbon emissions in 2019 as the poorest two-thirds. The group emphasized that the most vulnerable communities suffer the worst consequences of the climate crisis.
Messi, currently playing for Inter Miami in the US, reportedly purchased the property in 2022 for approximately 11 million euros ($12 million) from a Swiss businessman. The mansion includes a spa, sauna, and cinema room.
Futuro Vegetal is known for its provocative protests. In 2022, members glued their hands to paintings by Spanish master Francisco de Goya at Madrid's Prado museum. Last year, they spray-painted a superyacht in Ibiza that reportedly belonged to Walmart heiress Nancy Walton Laurie.
Spanish police have taken action against the group, arresting 22 members, including those involved in the Prado museum protest and the group's top leaders.
The incident has sparked mixed reactions, with some praising the activists for drawing attention to the climate crisis and others criticizing their methods. The debate continues over the best ways to address the urgent issue of climate change and the role of the wealthy in contributing to and solving the crisis.
Messi has not publicly commented on the protest, but the incident adds to the ongoing scrutiny of celebrities and their environmental impact. The actions of Futuro Vegetal reflect a growing movement demanding accountability and action from the world's wealthiest individuals and entities.
