Lionel Messi not only shines on the field of play, but also in the business world. His real estate company, Edificio Rostowerhas been listed on the European stock exchange Portfolio Stock Exchange, reaching a valuation of 223.2 million euros. However, this financial success contrasts with the controversies surrounding his mansion in Sant Josep, Ibiza, marked by urban planning irregularities and a demolition order issued by the Town Hall.
An expanding society
Edificio Rostower, managed by the brother of the Argentine star, Rodrigo Martín Messi, controls a broad portfolio of luxury assets. These include six MiM hotels, including the emblematic MiM Ibiza in Figueretas, and properties in Barcelona, Castelldefels, Paris and London.
This portfolio has been key to the stock market take-off of the socimi, designed to fiscally optimize Messi’s investments and attract new investors. However, the property in Sant Josep, acquired in 2022 for 11 million euros, remains a sticking point. This mansion, with 568 square meters of construction on a plot of more than 16,000 square meters, faces multiple legal problems due to unauthorized works, including a pergola, terraces and the conversion of a garage into additional rooms.
The impact on Ibiza: business and controversies
In addition to the income generated by the Hotel MiM Ibiza, Messi faces local criticism for the handling of irregularities at his mansion. The Sant Josep Town Hall has issued stop-work decrees and demolition orders that the footballer has failed to comply with by the stipulated deadlines. These tensions have fueled public debate on the island about the responsibility of public figures to comply with local regulations.
Messi’s future in Ibiza
Despite the stock market success of Edificio Rostower, the situation in Ibiza remains unresolved. Municipal sources assure that Messi and his legal team are aware of the proceedings, but the irregular works are still not legalized. Meanwhile, local authorities are keeping up the pressure, and the case of Messi’s mansion has become a symbol of the difficulties in enforcing urban planning regulations on luxury properties.
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