Lionel Messi contributes €80,000 to aid Sierra Oeste wildfire recovery

Lionel Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, has pledged €80,000 to assist reconstruction in Spain’s Sierra Oeste region, which suffered one of the worst wildfire outbreaks in recent memory. The donation was verified by Isabel Diaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, who publicly thanked the football legend and invited locals to greet him when he visits. The fires, fueled by a severe heatwave that also affected France, burned more than 22,000 hectares, razed at least 43 houses and left over 300 homes severely damaged, forcing many residents to evacuate.

Regional authorities say the full extent of the devastation is still being evaluated, with recovery expected to take a long time. Messi’s philanthropy extends beyond this gift; he has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010 and, through the Lionel Messi Foundation, has supported initiatives like a pediatric cancer centre in Barcelona. His humanitarian work was recognized in 2025 with the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom.