ไทย
English
中國人
Lionel Messi and Argentina's soccer governing body (AFA) are facing allegations of violating a $7 million agreement in a lawsuit brought forward by VID Music Group.
The heart of the complaint centers on Messi's no-show at a friendly match between Argentina and Venezuela last October, an event organized by VID, a Miami-based promotions company, under the assumption that the globally renowned star would take part.
VID alleges that Messi's unannounced absence and the resulting poor ticket sales caused the company to "lose millions," according to ESPN, which reviewed the court filings. Accusations of "fraud" have also emerged involving an unnamed intermediary agent, making this a potentially serious legal headache for the Inter Miami skipper.
What Happened?
Messi scores and his @Argentina teammates were loving it 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/EGgHC3BieC
In August 2025, VID claims to have been approached by an AFA representative about hosting two Argentina friendlies on U.S. soil, less than a year before the World Cup comes to America. According to the lawsuit, as cited by The Athletic, VID paid the AFA $7 million for the rights, in exchange for all revenue from tickets, broadcasting, and sponsorships.
In the days leading up to Argentina's opening match against Venezuela on Oct. 10 at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida, uncertainty surrounded Messi's participation. "We spoke to [Messi], as we have with all the players, and we have not decided on the lineup yet," head coach Lionel Scaloni told reporters the day before the match.
"We will make the decision after our final training. These are games for experimenting and that's what we'll do. I would like to try new alternatives."
Messi ultimately sat out the match entirely, not even appearing as a substitute. Yet he was healthy enough to not only start but shine in Inter Miami's 4–0 demolition of Atlanta United the very next evening. Messi netted twice and assisted Jordi Alba in a victory that secured Miami's home advantage heading into the MLS Cup playoffs.
With club commitments concluded, Messi did start the second AFA-VID friendly, providing two assists in a commanding 6–0 victory over Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium in Florida.
What Has Messi Been Accused of?
Messi's absence from the Venezuela fixture is portrayed in a damaging light within the legal filing.
Through dealings with a third-party agent, The Athletic reports that Messi stands accused of "conspiring" to persuade VID of his commitment to the friendlies—allegedly promising to play a minimum of 30 minutes in each—so that they would enter the lucrative deal with the AFA "under false pretenses." In legal terminology, this constitutes "tortious interference."
Even after contracts were signed, Messi allegedly "represented to the public and to VID that he would appear in the game."
The events company contends that the player should have been aware well in advance of his inability to play, long before VID were notified—which allegedly occurred just one day prior to the Venezuela fixture.
VID also alleges that the private suite from which Messi watched the friendly was funded by the company itself.
A statement from VID's attorney, Ralph Patino, described Messi's expected participation as "a material term of the agreements, forming a central component of the contracts and directly tied to the commercial viability of the matches."
Further Allegations
This legal dispute extends beyond just two poorly managed friendlies. VID claims the original agreement was signed with the expectation of organizing additional future matches, including a game against World Cup co-hosts Mexico, as reported by the Miami Herald.
The AFA faces accusations of "negligent misrepresentation and alleged breaches of contract," while the intermediary agent who facilitated dealings between VID and the national federation is reportedly facing a charge of "fraud." The AFA allegedly selected this individual despite the fact that his FIFA match agent license had already lapsed at the time of negotiations.
In financial terms, VID claims it was entitled to 25% of the contract's total value ($1.75 million) in the event that Messi did not play. The AFA's alleged failure to pay this amount is cited as a breach of the agreed terms. The complaint, however, does not specify an exact figure for total damages sought.
How Has Lionel Messi Responded?
Neither Messi, the AFA, nor the unnamed agent have issued any public response.
The case was submitted at Miami-Dade circuit court in March but only entered public awareness in April after journalists reviewed the court documents.