Lionel Messi, the long-serving Barcelona player and current captain of the Argentine national team, has donated €80,000 to the restoration of the area in the province of Madrid. The funds are intended to repair the damage caused by a large forest fire that recently affected the western part of the Sierra in Madrid. The regional president, Isabel Ayuso, confirmed the donation and thanked the player on the social media platform X on Tuesday.
The forest fire, one of the largest recorded in the region, affected the mountainous western part of the province over the past week. Authorities were forced to restrict movement and evacuate more than 55,000 residents to ensure their safety. More than 27,000 hectares of forest were burned, with firefighters only managing to bring the blaze under control after a week of intense firefighting.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Messi had previously provided financial aid to the Red Cross, specifically for aid following forest fires in other parts of Spain. Additionally, the Argentine footballer has donated significant sums following the severe floods caused by storms in the Valencia region, demonstrating his consistent humanitarian engagement.
Messi is known for his long-standing support of health institutions, having previously donated more than €3 million to the Paediatric Centre. His recent donation to Madrid has received positive reactions, with local residents expressing hope that the Argentine star will be welcomed and applauded when the situation in the region stabilises.
