Lionel Messi now faces legal action in the United States. A Florida company has filed a lawsuit claiming the Argentinian star did not attend a scheduled match and caused serious financial losses. According to TMZ, the company said they spent millions in anticipation of Messi’s appearance, but when he didn’t show up, the event lost value and money.
Messi and Argentina FA sued by Miami promoter for missing Venezuela game
The company behind the lawsuit is Miami-based VID. It organizes sports and music events. VID said it signed a deal with the Argentine Football Association last October for two exhibition matches worth about $7 million. Those games are scheduled against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. As part of the deal, Messi is expected to play at least 30 minutes in both games, barring injury. But things didn’t go as planned.Messi did not take part in the game against Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium. VID claimed this was a breach of protocol. To make matters worse, Messi played for Inter Miami the next day and even scored two goals against Atlanta United. VID said this showed he was fit to compete. They also said they paid for a private suite so Messi and his family could watch Venezuela play, even though he did not play.
Game changes, losses and previous games MLS Case adds to Lionel Messi controversy
Messi played in the second game against Puerto Rico and contributed two assists, helping the team win 6-0. But VID says the damage has been done.The company claimed losses in excess of $1 million. One big reason is the change of venue. Venezuela’s game was moved from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale due to poor ticket sales.People are confused about who made the decision. The Argentine Football Association noted that strict immigration rules affected Chicago fans. Local officials in Chicago blamed low demand for tickets.VID also stated that they are committed to making up for the losses at future competitions, including those held in China. Those games never happened.This is not the first time a Messi-related incident has caused legal trouble. Just last month, Major League Soccer and the Vancouver Whitecaps settled a separate case related to promotional claims. The case involves fans expecting to see Messi and other stars such as Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets.Despite this, Messi’s performance on the field remains strong. Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, he has scored 83 goals in 96 games. He also helped the club win the League Cup, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup. Messi is also expected to play a key role for Argentina in the next World Cup.
