A legal battle is unfolding involving Lionel Messi after the football icon was accused of breaching a contract by failing to play in a high-profile exhibition match in Miami last year.
According to court filings submitted on March 31 at the Miami-Dade Circuit Court, event promoter VID Music Group has filed a lawsuit against Messi, the Argentine Football Association, and sports executive Julian Marcos Kapelan. The suit includes allegations of fraud and breach of contract linked to Argentina’s international friendlies held in October 2025.
VID claims it secured exclusive rights to organise and promote Argentina’s matches against Venezuela and Puerto Rico, with revenues expected from ticket sales, broadcasting, and sponsorship deals. Central to the agreement, the company says, was a clause requiring Messi to play at least 30 minutes in each game unless he was injured.
The promoter argues that Messi’s involvement was the key commercial attraction, describing his presence as the “primary economic driver” behind the fixtures. However, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner did not feature in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Venezuela on October 10, instead watching from a suite at Hard Rock Stadium.
The lawsuit further alleges that Messi, along with Kapelan and the AFA, misled the promoter into signing the agreement under false pretences. Additional claims of negligent misrepresentation and contractual breaches have also been raised, including issues surrounding the Puerto Rico match and other proposed fixtures in the United States.
Despite missing the Venezuela game, Messi returned to action shortly after. He scored twice for Inter Miami in a dominant 4-0 win over Atlanta United, before featuring for Argentina in a 6-0 victory against Puerto Rico on October 14, where he provided two assists.
The case adds an unexpected off-field challenge for Messi, as legal proceedings begin over what could become a significant dispute involving one of football’s biggest global stars and the commercial stakes tied to his appearances.
