Ibiza. A place known beyond its picturesque locations and pristine beaches. Over the years, it has become the party capital, attracting party-goers across the globe. No wonder it is also the first choice of many soccer players to kickstart their vacation at this Balearic Island in the Mediterranean Sea. Legendary forward Lionel Messi is in such awe of the place that he even bought a $12 million mansion. However, what seemed like a beneficial investment turned into a nightmare as climate activists targeted his property. But what exactly is the commotion about?

The group that attacked Messi’s property is Futuro Vegetal, a climate activist organization. They shared a picture on X with the caption where two activists are standing outside the plot which they have vandalized with big paint cylinders with red and black colors. Both individuals are also holding a banner saying, “Help the planet. Eat the rich. Abolish the police.” Describing the property as illegally built they also added a caption saying, “WE ACT. We dye Messi’s illegal mansion in Ibiza 🧯.”

Well, Messi hasn’t exactly bought this property in his own name. Per elDiario.es., the luxurious 16,000 square meter mansion in Cala Tarida is registered under the firm Edificio Rostower SL and is legally represented by Rodrigo Messi, La Pulga’s brother. Periódico de Ibiza y Formentera reported that the purchase was finalized on February 3, 2022, at a notary in Barcelona, that too, without a final building permit or a certificate of habitability.

Furthermore, the construction on the land was stopped by the Sant Josep City Council in May 2022, as it was being done without a license. Notably, the unauthorized work involved earthmoving and building new terraces. The council even had a non-approval of changes as the property needed to submit a project and further request the necessary building permit.

Messi is not alone in the commotion; more details on the illegal Ibiza mansion 

Though the mansion was initially legal when the building permit was first requested, the City Council later denied the final permit due to plans to convert a garage into a room. Failure of this permit also doesn’t allow the owner to request a certificate of habitability from the Island Council. If the proprietor wishes to bring the mansion back into legal compliance, they must restore it to its original state.

This can be done by removing the rooms added to the garage area. Additionally, the new terraces must be dismantled, as mandated by the Mayor following an inspection by municipal technicians. But before Messi and his legal representatives thought of doing so, climate activists took the bold approach and vandalized the former Barcelona star’s mansion. However, his property is just a start as others might be in line.

Former Italian soccer star Marco Borriello has also made an illegal construction, located in es Cubells. He is in line to face a fine of €1.2m ($1.3m) while the builder of his property could be fined €1m ($1.1m).

Additionally, Cathy Lobé, a.k.a Cathy Guetta, wife of French DJ and producer David Guetta, owns a mansion 3 miles of the Sant Josep road. Known as Villa Titanium, it spans 30,000 square meters, the property has illegal construction works worth €2m ($2.1m).

Notably, rampant urban development in Ibiza has left the island with little available land for basic public planning like schools, housing, sewage and waste treatment centers, and health centers. Hence, this has ensued a fight to abolish the illegal purchase of lands made by A-listers. It remains to be seen what Lionel Messi has to say about the climate activists taking matters into their own hands.