Lionel Messi is reportedly facing a lawsuit from a Florida promoter who is suing the soccer legend for fraud and breach of contract after he skipped a game for Argentina last year.
According to TMZ, VID – a Miami-based company that specializes in putting on sports and music events – has filed a lawsuit against both Messi and the Argentina Football Association.
VID reportedly claims they lost out on millions of dollars after Messi missed Argentina’s friendly match against Venezuela.
As reported by TMZ, VID allege that they agreed a $7million deal with the AFA for exclusive rights to two exhibition matches – Argentina vs. Venezuela and Argentina vs. Puerto Rico, which both took place in October.
As part of the deal, VID claims, Messi was required to play at least 30 minutes in each of the two games – unless he was injured.
But Messi instead watched Argentina’s win over Venezuela from the stands of Hard Rock Stadium, with VID reportedly claiming they paid for the suite where Messi spent the evening with his family.
Lionel Messi is reportedly being sued for fraud and breach of contract by a promoter
VID has filed a lawsuit against both Messi and the Argentina Football Association
Messi watched the game between Argentina and Venezuela in a suite at Hard Rock Stadium
The very next day, the 38-year-old scored twice as Inter Miami beat Atlanta United. He did feature when Argentina beat Puerto Rico, setting up two goals in a 6-0 win.
But, according to TMZ, VID claims they lost more than $1m after the game was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale.
Officials in Chicago claimed low ticket sales were to blame for the decision, while officials with the Argentine federation said the immigration crackdown in Chicago was responsible.
VID claims the AFA promised to rectify the situation with games against China in 2026, only for those matches never to materialize.
According to TMZ, VID wants to be reimbursed for all the money they lost and more.
Only last month, meanwhile, Major League Soccer and the Vancouver Whitecaps settled a class-action lawsuit that claimed they relied on ‘misleading promotional material’ when flogging tickets for a clash with Inter Miami in May 2024.
The league and the club were accused of milking expectation that Messi and other Miami stars would play in the game, only for none of Messi, Luis Suarez or Sergio Busquets to travel.
Both MLS and the Whitecaps denied any liability and said the claim was without merit, according to reports. But they were ordered to pay – collectively – $329,000 to settle the lawsuit.
