'It's unfair!' Kim Kardashian blasted for buying son Lionel Messi experience

The video of the eight-year-old walking the soccer star onto the field attracted criticism for 'taking away opportunities from less fortunate children'. But others argued he's 'as deserving as anyone else.'

Kim Kardashian has come under fire for sharing a clip of her eight-year-old son, Saint, walking soccer icon Lionel Messi onto the field ahead of his match last weekend. 

The reality star and business mogul’s youngest son, who she shares with ex-husband Kanye West, was a player escort for the famous footballer and held his hand before Inter Miami's clash against LA Galaxy. 

She shared the video of Saint walking onto the field to X, writing: “Saint walking Messi out on the field tonight at the LA Galaxy vs Inter Miami game!!!' 

The 43-year-old added. “He is living the absolute dream!”

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Image: X

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"Talk about privilege"

Despite it being an ecstatic moment for her soccer-obsessed preteen, the video quickly attracted criticism from people who accused Kardashian of taking away opportunities from less fortunate children. 

“Would be awesome if some kid actually deserving of it got that opportunity. Not someone who was incredibly lucky to be born to billionaires,” someone replied to the clip, which now has nearly eight million views. 

“Talk about privilege,” another eye-rolled. “Hope he can kick the ball.”

“I guess she’s not big on philanthropy. Like donating to Make a Wish Foundation or any other organisation,” another tweeted.

Then this user wrote, "He was born already on third base with the biggest silver spoon. Too bad a less fortunate kid couldn't have walked out with Messi."

"Your kid has everything. Why not let another kid have this opportunity?" asked another.

Image: X

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"Money can buy happiness," says a user who suggests Kim paid for this opportunity

Then some commenters suggested that Kardashian had paid for this experience, with one saying, “Money can buy happiness. Debate closed.

Another demanded, “Tell the truth how much that cost.”

Then this user claimed, “Whoever said money is not everything was lying. Even Messi can be bought.”

Others echoed these sentiments, saying, “What money can buy,” and, “See what money does.”

On the other hand, others were quick to defend Saint, insisting that he’s just as ‘deserving’ as any child.

“Saint is a huge soccer fan and has always loved it so much and that makes him extremely deserving,” one explained. “You think having a family and resources that make that available and possible for him make him less deserving? That's very myopic thinking.”

Then someone else insisted that anyone who is a soccer fan is deserving and reiterated that “his parents’ finances” were not something that he had any control over. 

“He didn’t ask to be born to billionaire parents. He can’t change that,” they said. Another mentioned: “So he’s less deserving of childhood dreams and experiences because he’s rich?!”

“That little boy just knows he loves soccer and that Messi is his hero. Just like any other kid his age with ‘normal’ parents. This narrative is so tired,” responded someone else. 

Image: Instagram

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Saint's soccer-themed birthday party

Kardashian regularly shares Saint’s love of sport on her Instagram, even branding herself as a ‘soccer mum’ in December. 

She shared a photo from a dinner at a fast-food chain, showing Saint's soccer trading cards spread out on the table.

“What dinner as a soccer mum looks like,” she captioned the post. 

She has also been pictured multiple times attending her son’s soccer games and has taken her kids to several professional games too. 

When Saint turned eight, the family threw him a soccer-themed party, complete with a giant soccer ball smash cake and jumping castles shaped like goals.

Each guest left with a custom Adidas soccer jersey with Saint's name on it and the number eight.

Originally published as 'It's unfair!' Kim Kardashian blasted for buying son Lionel Messi experience