Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) are facing a major lawsuit in Florida, with a promoter alleging the soccer icon's failure to appear in two exhibition matches caused millions in financial losses.
VID, a Miami-based event promoter, filed the lawsuit in South Florida court this week, accusing Messi and the AFA of fraud and breach of contract. According to court documents, VID paid the AFA $7 million in August for exclusive rights to two October exhibition matches: Argentina vs. Venezuela and Argentina vs. Puerto Rico.
"Messi was contractually obligated to play at least 30 minutes in each game unless he was injured," the lawsuit states. "Argentina was playing, but Messi was the draw."
VID claims Messi failed to meet this obligation, watching the first match from a luxury suite with his family instead of playing. The promoter alleges they covered the costs for that suite arrangement.
Adding to their case, VID points out that Messi wasn't injured—he played for Inter Miami the very next day, scoring two goals and recording an assist.
The second exhibition became another point of contention. VID says they were forced to move the game from Chicago to a smaller arena in Fort Lauderdale due to civil unrest, resulting in over $1 million in losses according to their calculations.
After what VID describes as "disastrous" games, the AFA reportedly promised to make amends with future matchups against China in 2026, but those plans never materialized.
While the exact damages sought remain unspecified, VID claims they've lost millions and are seeking full compensation plus additional damages. The AFA and Messi's representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.