Portsmouth NH realtors represent Lionel Messi in Florida mansion deal
PORTSMOUTH — Argentinian soccer legend Lionel Messi and his family have a South Florida waterfront mansion to call their new home, and two Portsmouth realtors played a major role in securing the deal.
Samuel and Donna Simpkin, a married couple who help run Brick & Barn Group, a Compass real estate company on Brewery Lane in Portsmouth, represented the Messi family in their purchase of the estate. The home sold for $10.75 million.
Samuel Simpkin is Brick and Barn’s vice president of sales while Donna Simpkin serves as its vice president of operations.
The Simpkins run another Compass branch, Team Simpkin in Florida, which in May 2022 was announced as Inter Miami CF’s official real estate partner. The Major League Soccer team in July signed Messi, a World Cup and Champions League winner. He is also a record seven-time recipient of the Ballon d’Or award, given to the top player in the world each year.
“We are endlessly grateful for the opportunity to work with such amazing clientele and provide premier services across South Florida,” Samuel Simpkin said in a prepared statement. “We believe our extensive market knowledge and keen understanding of our clients’ needs has led us to the successful sale of this property to the Messi family.
“We have been assisting Inter Miami players and their families find homes and begin their lives in the area since the club’s inception. This is a full circle moment for us, myself having a soccer background and our team being deeply vested in the Fort Lauderdale community; it is truly an honor to help this organization continue to build its legacy,” he continued.
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Through Scott Rome, the founding broker and managing director of Brick & Barn, Simpkin declined further comment. Rome said Brick & Barn Group and Team Simpkin collaborate and cover parts of New England and Florida.
According to a news release announcing the sale, the Bay Colony gated community residence now owned by the soccer great has 10 bedrooms, nine-and-a-half bathrooms, a three-car garage and a pool that is more than 10,000 square feet.
Compass reports the home was last sold in May 2022 for $9 million. The residence, per Compass’ old listing, was built on a cul-de-sac, has 170 feet of waterfront access and was built originally for designer Lori Morris.
“Every detail in this carefully curated modern waterfront estate personifies elegance, culture, art and a unique depth of design,” the listing reads. “Exceptional selections of materials, lighting, and colors blend creating a space that is both glamorous and comfortable for the owners and their guests.”
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Since arriving in America this summer from France, the 36-year-old Messi has been on a tear, scoring 11 goals in 10 games and leading the team to the Leagues Cup title. Messi is currently playing for Argentina for a pair of World Cup qualifiers in South America before rejoining Inter Miami.
Brick & Barn is headquartered in Portsmouth and serves Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
