GistReel
Lionel Messi has donated €80,000 to support recovery efforts in Spain after devastating wildfires swept through parts of the Madrid region, destroying thousands of hectares of land and displacing residents.
The Inter Miami captain made the contribution to help rebuild communities in the Sierra Oeste area, one of the regions worst affected by the recent fires, which burned almost 75,000 acres of land and caused widespread environmental damage.
Madrid president thanks Messi
The donation was confirmed by the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who publicly thanked the Argentina captain for his support.
“Leo Messi has donated €80,000 for the reconstruction of the Sierra Oeste of Madrid. I want to thank him and tell him that we in Madrid look forward to welcoming him soon to give him the applause he deserves,” Ayuso wrote on X.
Madrid authorities recently launched a public fundraising platform to support the long-term recovery of the affected communities, with funds directed toward rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring the region’s natural environment.
Messi’s donation comes as local authorities continue efforts to assist residents and rehabilitate areas devastated by the wildfires.
Another charitable gesture
The latest contribution adds to Messi’s long record of humanitarian work through the Leo Messi Foundation, which has supported healthcare, education and community projects since its launch in 2007.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner donated funds to hospitals in Argentina and Spain to help provide medical equipment and improve healthcare services.
He has also supported relief efforts following natural disasters in several countries and has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2010, backing programmes focused on children’s health, education and emergency assistance.
Although Messi now plays in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, he has maintained close ties with Spain, where he spent more than two decades during his time at Barcelona.
His latest donation is expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to rebuild communities in western Madrid as authorities continue restoring homes, public infrastructure and areas affected by the destructive wildfires.