Messi, AFA Face Fraud Lawsuit Over Missed Miami Friendly

Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association face a lawsuit in South Florida accusing them of fraud and breach of contract over the soccer star's absence from an international exhibition match last year.

Vid Music Group, a Miami-based promoter of sports and music events, filed the suit in Miami-Dade circuit court last month. The company alleges it lost millions of dollars after Messi did not play in Argentina's friendly against Venezuela on October 10, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, despite a contractual obligation to participate for at least 30 minutes unless injured. The agreement, signed last August, granted Vid exclusive rights to organize and promote two Argentina friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico in exchange for about $7 million, with revenue from tickets, broadcasts and sponsorships tied to Messi's involvement.

According to court records, Messi watched Argentina's 1-0 victory over Venezuela from a luxury suite alongside his family, which Vid says it paid for. The following day, October 11, Messi appeared for his Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami, scoring two goals in a 4-0 win against Atlanta United that secured home-field advantage in the...