Lionel Messi Sued Over Missed Exhibition Match, Contract Breach Alleged Lionel Messi is facing a lawsuit from a Miami-based event promoter, Vid Music Group, which alleges the soccer icon and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) violated a $7 million contract by failing to fulfill obligations tied to an exhibition match last year. The legal action, filed in Miami-Dade circuit court, centers on claims of fraud and breach of contract, though details of the damages sought remain unspecified. Messi and the AFA have not yet responded to inquiries about the case. The lawsuit highlights a contractual agreement between Vid and the AFA, signed in the summer of 2023, which granted Vid exclusive rights to organize and promote Argentina’s friendly matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico in October 2023. In exchange, Vid was to receive revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and sponsorships. According to the filing, the deal required Messi to participate in at least 30 minutes of play in each match unless he was injured. The first match, against Venezuela on October 10, was held at South Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium, where Messi reportedly watched the 1-0 victory from a suite. The following day, Messi played a key role in Inter Miami’s 4-0 MLS win over Atlanta, a game critical for securing the club’s home-field advantage in the playoffs. On October 14, Argentina faced Puerto Rico in a match originally scheduled for Chicago. However, the event was relocated to Florida due to low ticket sales, a decision attributed to the city’s immigration enforcement activities. The lawsuit claims that the relocation to Fort Lauderdale, where the game was held, led to poor ticket sales despite reduced prices to $25 per ticket.#lionel_messi #inter_miami #hard_rock_stadium #argentine_football_association #vid_music_group
