Lionel Messi is being sued for not participating in a friendly match in Miami
Miami promoter has filed claims of fraud and breach against Messi and the AFA following the star’s failure to participate in the agreed-upon friendly match against Venezuela.
Lionel Messi is currently involved in a lawsuit initiated by a Miami-based event promoter, which claims that the football star violated a contract by not participating in an exhibition match last year, as indicated by court records submitted on March 31.
Last month, VID Music Group filed claims of fraud and breach of contract against Messi and the Argentine Football Association in the Miami-Dade Circuit Court. The legal action additionally includes sports executive Julian Marcos Kapelan.
The complaint states that VID entered into an agreement with the Argentine Football Association last summer, which granted it exclusive rights to organize and promote Argentina’s international friendlies in October against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, in return for ticketing, broadcast, and sponsorship revenue.
The promoter stated that the agreement stipulated Messi must play a minimum of 30 minutes in every match unless he was injured, emphasizing that his involvement was a key factor in the match’s commercial value and served as the main economic driver for the events.
The lawsuit alleges that Messi conspired with Kapelan and the Argentine Football Association to engage in conduct aimed at persuading VID to enter into contracts with AFA under false pretenses. Additionally, Messi faces accusations of negligent misrepresentation.
The allegations against the Argentine Football Association involve purported negligent misrepresentation and contract violations concerning the match with Venezuela, the October game against Puerto Rico, and two planned matches set to occur in the United States in June 2026, while Kapelan faces accusations of fraud.
According to the lawsuit, Messi, 38, did not participate in Argentina’s 1-0 win against Venezuela on October 10, opting to watch the match from a suite at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida.
The next day, Messi took the field and netted two goals for Inter Miami in a commanding 4-0 victory against Atlanta United.
He subsequently represented Argentina in a 6-0 triumph against Puerto Rico on October 14, contributing two assists in a match that was organized and promoted by VID, which was relocated from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale.
