Lionel Messi faces fraud lawsuit as Florida promoter alleges huge losses after Argentina star skipped Venezuela exhibition match (Image via Getty)
Lionel Messi is now facing a legal fight in the United States. A Florida-based company has filed a lawsuit, claiming the Argentina star did not play in a scheduled match and caused heavy financial losses. According to TMZ, the company says it spent millions expecting Messi to appear, but when he did not, the event lost value and money.
Lionel Messi and Argentine Football Association sued by Miami promoter over missed Venezuela match
The company behind the lawsuit is VID, based in Miami. It organizes sports and music events. VID says it signed a deal worth about $7 million with the Argentine Football Association for two exhibition matches in October last year. These matches were planned against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. As part of the deal, Messi was expected to play at least 30 minutes in both games, unless he was injured. But things did not go as planned.Messi did not play in the match against Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium. VID claims this broke the agreement. What made the situation worse for them was that Messi played the very next day for Inter Miami CF and even scored two goals against Atlanta United. VID says this showed he was fit to play. They also said they paid for a private suite so Messi and his family could watch the Venezuela game, even though he did not step on the field.
Match changes, losses, and previous MLS case add to Lionel Messi controversy
Messi did play in the second match against Puerto Rico and provided two assists in a 6-0 win. But VID says the damage was already done.The company claims it lost more than $1 million. One big reason was the change of venue. The Venezuela match was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to poor ticket sales.There was confusion about who made that decision. The Argentine Football Association pointed to strict immigration rules affecting fans in Chicago. Local officials in Chicago blamed low demand for tickets.VID also says it was promised future matches, including games in China, to make up for the losses. Those matches never happened.This is not the first time Messi-related events have led to legal trouble. Just last month, Major League Soccer and Vancouver Whitecaps settled a separate case linked to promotional claims. That case involved fans expecting to see Messi and other stars like Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets.Despite all this, Messi’s performance on the field remains strong. Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, he has scored 83 goals in 96 games. He has also helped the club win the Leagues Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and MLS Cup. Messi is also expected to play a key role for Argentina in the next World Cup.
