April 16 – Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) are facing legal action from Miami-based promoter VID Music Group, alleging fraud and breach of contract linked to two Argentina friendlies staged in October last year according to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports.
At the centre of the claim is a $7 million agreement that granted VID exclusive rights to organise and commercialise matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico.
According to the filing, Messi’s participation was fundamental to the deal – hence the reaction from VID towards the 38-year-old’s absence.
“The complaint states that the anticipated participation of Lionel Messi constituted a material term of the agreements, forming a central component of the contracts and directly tied to the commercial viability of the matches,” said VID’s counsel Ralph Patino.
The promoter argues that Messi was contractually required to play at least 30 minutes in each match unless injured. He did not feature in the first fixture against Venezuela at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, instead watching from a suite, before appearing for Inter Miami the following day – a sequence that sits at the heart of the dispute.
Messi’s appearance is obviously a key draw for promoters – and his absence would understandably leave expectant fans feeling a little short changed. VID has backed that sentiment up, saying that the absence had an immediate commercial impact, citing reduced attendance and a loss of confidence among ticket buyers for the second fixture.
On top of that, the Puerto Rico match, was moved from Chicago to a smaller venue in Florida with Messi in mind, further affecting revenues.
While Messi did feature in the second game, the promoter alleges cumulative losses running into the millions. That said, no damages figure has yet been formally disclosed.
The case is as significant for the AFA as it is for Messi himself. The lawsuit directly challenges how commercial rights are packaged and sold around international friendlies – particularly where player appearances are positioned as contractual deliverables rather than sporting decisions.
Neither Messi nor the AFA had responded publicly at the time of writing.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at [email protected]