An Albanian-Kosovar crime boss has confessed to a string of high-profile home robberies targeting famous footballers, including Lionel Messi, while claiming he stopped several raids on Messi’s residence out of personal respect for the player. The statements come from an interview with El Español and have sparked renewed discussion about security risks for top-tier athletes.
According to the confession, the individual claimed responsibility for breaking into clubs and homes in Europe years ago. He described taking a watch from Johan Cruyff’s time in Barcelona, along with minor items from a high-end brand, Hermes, and a cash haul approaching twenty thousand euros. He added that a separate operation targeted Cristiano Ronaldo’s home in Madeira, but, intriguingly, the plunder did little to excite the team’s raiders at the time. The credibility and details of these claims remain a matter of debate among law enforcement and journalists, who note the difficulty of verifying such statements from anonymous sources. This report is presented as a direct quote from the interview with El Español and should be interpreted with caution (attribution: El Español).
The purported robber asserted that he intervened on numerous occasions to thwart thieves aiming at Messi’s residence. He stated that these swift interventions were performed out of respect for Messi, whom he claimed to admire. Whether these protective actions occurred as described or served as a boastful embellishment is unclear, but the claim has added another layer to the public narrative surrounding Messi’s private life and security arrangements (attribution: El Español).
Messi’s professional journey continues to captivate fans beyond his on-field achievements. The Argentine forward celebrated a world championship with Argentina in December 2022. Following two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, he moved to Inter Miami in the summer of 2023, marking a new chapter in Major League Soccer. In August 2023, Inter Miami won the League Cup, securing the club’s first major trophy in the United States. Through 14 appearances for Inter Miami, Messi has recorded 11 goals and 5 assists, underscoring his continued impact on the field (attribution: El Español). This performance has helped propel discussions about his future, branding, and market value as a global sports icon (attribution: El Español).
In the broader context of football accolades, Messi added another milestone by winning the Ballon d’Or for the eighth time in his career on October 30. The annual footballer-of-the-year award continues to reflect his enduring influence in the sport and his ability to perform at the highest levels across leagues and continents (attribution: El Español).
Rumors and reports surrounding Messi’s contracts have periodically surfaced, including claims that notable clubs were exploring opportunities to sign him with substantial financial packages. For instance, there have been unconfirmed reports that a Middle Eastern club made an extremely lucrative offer, illustrating how Messi’s popularity translates into significant commercial interest. Readers should treat such reports as speculative until verified by reliable sources (attribution: El Español). The evolving landscape of Messi’s career remains of keen interest to fans and analysts alike in North America and beyond (attribution: El Español).