Lionel Messi, the globally acclaimed football icon, is currently embroiled in a significant legal dispute, facing accusations of fraud and breach of contract in a lawsuit filed by Miami-based event promoter Vid Music Group. The company is seeking approximately £5.6 million (USD $7 million) in damages, alleging that Messi failed to fulfil his contractual obligations to play in an exhibition match last year. The lawsuit, lodged in Miami-Dade circuit court, also names the Argentine Football Association (AFA) as a defendant. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr Come Together for LEGO’s Viral FIFA World Cup 2026 Campaign.

Allegations of Contractual Breach

According to court records, Vid Music Group claims it entered into a $7 million agreement with the AFA last summer, securing exclusive rights to organise and promote two friendly matches for the Argentine national team in October. These matches were scheduled against Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

A central tenet of the contract, as alleged by Vid, stipulated that Messi was required to play for a minimum of 30 minutes in each game, unless sidelined by injury. The promoter asserts that Messi's participation was a crucial element of the deal, given his immense drawing power and the significant revenue expected from ticket sales, broadcast rights, and sponsorships.

The Missed Match and Subsequent Play

The core of the lawsuit stems from Messi's alleged absence from the friendly against Venezuela on 10 October last year. Vid Music Group claims that Messi watched Argentina's 1-0 victory from a private suite at South Florida's Hard Rock Stadium, rather than taking to the pitch as contractually obligated.

Crucially, the lawsuit highlights that just one day later, Messi played for his club, Inter Miami, scoring two goals in a 4-0 Major League Soccer (MLS) win over Atlanta. This rapid return to club action is being presented by Vid Music Group as evidence that Messi was not injured and therefore breached the agreement by not playing in the Venezuela friendly.

Broader Context and Previous Promotional Issues

While Messi did participate in Argentina's subsequent 6-0 win over Puerto Rico on 14 October, the lawsuit also touches upon issues surrounding this second match. Originally planned for Chicago, the game was relocated to Fort Lauderdale due to low ticket sales, with the AFA reportedly attributing this to immigration crackdowns. Usman Khawaja Spots Lionel Messi Lookalike in Pakistan During PSL 2026 (Watch Video).

Vid Music Group claims to have incurred millions in losses due to Messi's non-appearance in the first game and the challenges faced with the second. This is not the first instance where events linked to Messi's promotional appearances have led to legal complications; Major League Soccer and the Vancouver Whitecaps recently settled a separate class-action lawsuit concerning misleading claims about Messi's participation in a 2024 match.

Messi and the AFA have not yet publicly responded to messages seeking comment on the lawsuit. The legal proceedings are expected to shed further light on the contractual agreements and the circumstances surrounding Messi's absence from the exhibition match, as Vid Music Group seeks full compensation for its alleged financial losses and additional damages.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 16, 2026 05:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).