Lionel Messi donates to rebuild Madrid wildfire-hit region

Isabel Díaz Ayuso, President of the Community of Madrid, announced that Argentine footballer Lionel Messi has donated to help rebuild the Sierra Oeste area of the Spanish capital, which suffered extensive damage from a large wildfire.

Ayuso explained that the fire affected around 27,000 hectares across 17 municipalities in the region, causing massive destruction and severely impacting the lives of thousands of local residents.

The blaze also caused significant losses to forests, crops, farms, homes, and infrastructure, making recovery and rehabilitation in Sierra Oeste—a region known for its natural resources and agricultural activity—a long and complex process.

View the post on X

Government efforts and Messi's initiative

The Community of Madrid has launched a comprehensive program to assist those affected and restore natural areas, including accepting donations through a dedicated website. In this context, Ayuso thanked Messi for his humanitarian gesture, writing on X: "I would like to thank him and say that the people of Madrid hope to welcome him soon with the applause he deserves."