Lionel Messi is involved in various charities and foundations. His latest efforts are tied to sustainability efforts with a global outreach.
When he sent invitations to his wedding, Lionel Messi kindly asked his guests to donate to his foundation instead of buying him gifts. As if this weren’t enough, Messi also made sure the excess food and drink from his wedding didn't go to waste and donated it all to the Rosario Food Bank.
What’s more, in 2017, after winning a defamation lawsuit against the Spanish newspaper La Razón, Messi donated the entire sum awarded — no less than €72,000 — to Doctors Without Borders.
Leo Messi is more than just an exceptional soccer player. He's also a very committed charity contributor who keeps a low profile and cares a lot about social and environmental issues. Let’s take a deeper look into Messi’s charity work.
Messi’s initial involvement with charity work
Barcelona, Messi’s first team, had traditional eschewed sponsors on its jersey. It was one of the few teams in Europe that had a blank slate on their chest. But this changed in 2006 when they joined forces with UNICEF for an unpaid sponsorship. Given it was their very first logo, the UNICEF sponsor on the jerseys proved particularly persuasive. This impactful partnership lined up with a young Lionel Messi's rise to prominence. At just 19, he found himself publicly associated with UNICEF's mission.
Source: Bilder.de
Three years later, his dedication to children's causes was solidified when he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Messi pledged his wholehearted support, stating his commitment to “do whatever it takes to help” the most vulnerable. Right after he was selected, Leo travelled to Haiti to raise awareness about the grim situation of the country's children after the earthquake.
Source: unicef.org
The beginning of the Leo Messi foundation
In 2007, Leo took a step further and founded his own charity, the Leo Messi Foundation. The idea that every child deserves a chance to chase their dreams is at the heart of everything they do.
Their programs address three key areas that shape young lives: health, education, and sports. They understand that promoting sports participation goes beyond competition. Sports, after all, are another tool for integrating and developing communities.
The foundation stands out for its commitment to transparency and its collaborative approach, working with international partners. Some of them are the Special Olympics Catalunya and the Josep Carreras Leukemia Foundation.
Source: fundacionleomessi.org
Lionel Messi Charity Work to Protect the Environment
In 2024, Messi decided to expand the scope of his activism concerning environmental preservation. As another chapter of his involvement with charities, Messi is involved in Join The Planet, a foundation that takes a unique approach to environmental issues by collaborating with coastal communities. Together, they transform recycled materials into special tokens, like the limited-edition Messi memorabilia boot, called the Genesis Edition.
These collectible boots are made from ocean plastics taken from around the world, including cast-off fishing nets salvaged from the Patagonia, Indonesia, China, Thailand, and India.
With Lionel Messi as their ambassador, Join The Planet aims to support these communities globally. Every purchase of the collectible boots contributes to their mission and inspires Messi to continue his environmental advocacy. When you join them, you’re getting a piece of Messi memorabilia, and you're becoming part of a movement for a healthier planet.
Buy Messi Signed Memorabilia to Support his Foundation Work
Join The Planet is a special and affordable way to celebrate Messi's involvement with foundations. Unlike other expensive souvenirs, These limited-edition collectible boots are made from recycled ocean plastic.
You can buy a special Messi collectible for a low price that helps make the planet cleaner. The Genesis Edition ornamental boot is the way to join Messi and the planet — and having something at home to prove it.
Buy the Join The Planet signed collectible boot by Leo Messi now!