Kim Kardashian Messi Video Blasted: 'What Money Can Buy'

Kim Kardashian has come under fire over a video of her 8-year-old son Saint and Lionel Messi.

Saint, whose father is Kardashian's ex-husband Kanye West, walked onto the field with the soccer star as a player escort ahead of the L.A. Galaxy vs Inter Miami game on Sunday.

Kardashian shared a clip of the moment to X, formerly Twitter, where it received over a million views.

"Saint walking Messi out on the field tonight at the LA Galaxy vs Inter Miami game!!!" the 43-year-old wrote. "He is living the absolute dream!"

However, several users accused the reality star of taking opportunities away from less fortunate children.

"What money can buy," commented Ragnarok.

"Tell the truth how much that cost," said @All_cake88.

"Talk about privilege," wrote @aben18.

"Would be awesome if some kid actually deserving of it got that opportunity," said William Brown. "Not someone who was incredibly lucky to be born to billionaires."

Joseph Rodriguez agreed, writing: "He was born on 3rd base with 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 deserving to have this opportunity," said Joyvia Nation. "No, you lot have to be everywhere. Una too dey do! Jssssssh!"

Newsweek has reached out to Kim Kardashian, Lionel Messi and Inter Miami for comment via email.

Other users defended the reality star from critics.

"Saint is a huge soccer fan and has always loved it so much and that makes him extremely deserving," said CathyMukora.

"So your solution is that he's not allowed to do things ordinary kids are because his parents are famous? How does this seem fair?" asked Lnmo.

"Why is he less deserving because his parents are rich? That little boy just knows he loves soccer and that Messi is his hero," said Lynn Clare. "Just like any other kid his age with 'normal' parents. This narrative is so tired."

Soccer teams first began bringing player escorts—also known as "match mascots" or "child mascots"—onto the field before games roughly 20 years ago.

Initially, the practice was a way to raise awareness for good causes. While some slots are still given to child mascots through charities or competitions, others are offered through paid for "mascot packages," with the price varying by team and location.

This isn't the first time Kardashian has caused controversy by sharing images and videos of her four children online.

In October, The Kardashians' star shared a photo of Saint dressed as zombified version of Brazilian soccer player Neymar Jr. for Halloween. He was dressed in a torn-up Al Hilal SFC uniform and covered in fake blood. Some followers felt the costume was insensitive and said that the image reminded them of the violence in Israel and Gaza.

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people. Israel subsequently fired airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian militant group is based, followed by a ground offensive. As of February 26, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, the Associated Press reports, with roughly two-thirds of the death count women and children.