Lionel Messi is facing a lawsuit filed in Miami by a sports event promoter, VID Music Group, which accuses the football star of breaching a contract by failing to play in an international exhibition match in 2025.
According to court records filed in the Miami-Dade Circuit Court on March 31, 2026, the company also named the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and sports executive Julian Marcos Kapelan in the suit.
The promoter is seeking damages for alleged fraud, breach of contract, and negligent misrepresentation.
VID Music Group claimed it entered into an agreement with the AFA granting it exclusive rights to organise and promote Argentina’s international friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico in October 2025.
The deal, valued at about $7 million, reportedly required Messi to play at least 30 minutes in each match unless he was injured, as his participation was described as a key factor in the commercial success of the events.
The lawsuit alleged that Messi did not feature in Argentina’s 1–0 win over Venezuela on October 10, 2025, instead watching the match from a private
suite at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
However, he played for Inter Miami the following day, scoring twice in an MLS match against Atlanta United.
Messi later featured in Argentina’s 6–0 victory over Puerto Rico on October 14, a match that was also part of the promoter’s agreement but was relocated from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale.
VID claimed that Messi’s absence from the first match and related issues around attendance and venue changes resulted in significant financial losses.
The promoter argued that Messi’s presence was central to ticket sales, broadcasting value, and sponsorship revenue.
The complaint further alleged that the AFA and Kapelan misrepresented contractual terms, inducing VID to enter the agreement under false pretences.
The suit also accused the defendants of conspiracy and interference in contractual obligations.
Messi and the Argentine Football Association have not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
The case adds to ongoing scrutiny around commercial agreements involving high-profile exhibition matches featuring international football stars, where player participation is often a key factor in event valuation and marketing.
