MIAMI – While Lionel Messi continues to break records on the pitch for Argentina and cement his legacy as the world's greatest playmaker, the football superstar is facing significant legal turbulence concerning his high-value real estate portfolio in Spain. Multiple reports indicate that at least two of his properties—a luxury hotel in Sitges and a mansion in Ibiza—have been targeted by authorities due to serious violations of local urban planning and environmental laws, raising the real threat of partial or total demolition.
The most severe controversy surrounds the MiM Sitges Hotel, located near Barcelona. Acquired by Messi in 2017 for approximately £26 million (around €30 million), the hotel has reportedly been subject to a pending court order for demolition. Investigations revealed the structure does not meet local building standards. Specifically, the hotel's balconies were found to be illegally oversized, and experts fear that reducing their size could compromise the entire structural integrity of the 77-room building. Further complicating the issue, the hotel's fire safety plan also allegedly failed to meet the required standards. Messi’s legal team reportedly claimed he was unaware of the demolition order when he made the purchase.
Ibiza Mansion Faces Parallel Challenge
The Sitges hotel is not Messi's only Spanish property facing regulatory headaches. His luxury mansion on the island of Ibiza, valued at approximately £9.5 million (€11 million), has also been declared a "toxic asset" by local authorities in Sant Josep de sa Talaia.
The mansion faces the threat of partial demolition due to unauthorized constructions added to the property, including elevated terraces, outdoor lounges with pergolas, and a converted basement garage. These additions allegedly violate strict environmental protection laws on the island. While Messi’s representatives have reportedly sought to resolve the issue through fines and retrospective partial demolitions, local authorities have tightened their control over unauthorized luxury developments, creating a high-profile headache far from the football pitch.
This dual real estate crisis highlights the complex regulatory landscape for high-net-worth individuals investing in protected zones across Spain. For Messi, whose name is synonymous with perfection on the field, these off-field issues present an expensive and distracting challenge that his team is urgently working to resolve.
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