At 38, Lionel Messi thought he had found a peaceful refuge for his Mediterranean summers on the island of Ibiza. A sumptuous, isolated residence, hidden from view. But behind the postcard, a scandal looms: the property, purchased in 2022, would be at the heart of a procedure which could cost the Argentine captain dearly. According to the Spanish press, the Inter Miami player could simply see the 11 million euros invested in this house which has become a source of controversy disappear.
A dream villa built on illegal land
The case revolves around a 16,000 m² villa located in Sant Josep de Sa Talaia, on the west coast of Ibiza. The property, acquired from Swiss businessman Philippe Amon, would have been built on protected land, without a building permit or valid occupancy certificate. Consequence: the mayor prohibited any renovation and the property was classified as a
“toxic active”, impossible to sell or rent.
Worse still, local authorities do not rule out partial demolition of the property if the administrative situation is not regularized. A catastrophic prospect for Messi, whose house – equipped with a 92 m² swimming pool and a mini football pitch – is now under municipal investigation for “illegal modifications”.
Messi caught up in real estate scandal in Ibiza
A property already targeted by environmental activists
Last year, the Futuro Vegetal group vandalized the house in protest. The activists had covered the facade with red and black paint, denouncing “illegal and indecent construction” in a context of climate crisis. “While some are dying from the heat, the ultra-rich are destroying the planet”they wrote. La Pulga then filed a complaint, demanding €50,000 in compensation for damage.
This episode, already embarrassing, helped to focus attention on the troubled conditions of the construction, reinforcing the pressure around the legal case.
An affair which tarnishes a radiant end to a career
While the procedure takes its course, Messi continues to shine with Inter Miami: 26 goals and 15 assists this season, records broken in MLS and an intact influence as the 2026 World Cup approaches. But this real estate controversy, between ecological issues and administrative irregularities, is disrupting a daily life that had until then been under control.
As he approaches the end of his sporting career, the 2022 world champion sees his name mixed up in an imbroglio far from the pitch. If the decision were to confirm the partial demolition, Messi would lose 11 million euros. And a piece of its Mediterranean paradise.
