Lionel Messi sued for missing $7M soccer friendly in Miami

Event promoter claims soccer icon violated contract by sitting out exhibition match

Apr. 15, 2026 at 9:08pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a soccer match or competition, with the vibrant colors of the Argentine national team's uniform breaking down into sharp, geometric shapes and planes, conceptually representing the legal and financial complexities surrounding a star player's contractual obligations.A lawsuit over Lionel Messi's absence from a lucrative Miami soccer friendly exposes the high stakes and financial pressures surrounding top international talent.Today in Miami

Lionel Messi, considered one of the greatest soccer players ever, is being sued by a Miami-based event promoter who says the international star violated terms of a $7 million contract by missing an exhibition match last year. Vid Music Group filed the lawsuit for fraud and breach of contract against Messi and the Argentine Football Association in Miami-Dade circuit court last month.

Why it matters

Messi's star power is a major draw for fans, and his absence from the scheduled exhibition match resulted in significant financial losses for the event promoter. This lawsuit highlights the high stakes involved in securing top talent for lucrative sporting events.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Vid signed a deal with the AFA last summer for exclusive rights to organize and promote Argentina's friendlies last October against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The contract stipulated that Messi was supposed to play for at least 30 minutes in each match, unless he was injured. However, Messi watched Argentina's 1-0 win against Venezuela on Oct. 10 from a suite at South Florida's Hard Rock Stadium, and then played in Argentina's 6-0 win over Puerto Rico on Oct. 14, but did not appear in the Venezuela match.

  • On October 10, 2025, Messi watched Argentina's match against Venezuela from a suite at Hard Rock Stadium.
  • On October 11, 2025, Messi scored two goals in Inter Miami's 4-0 MLS win over Atlanta.
  • On October 14, 2025, Messi played in Argentina's 6-0 win over Puerto Rico.

The players

Lionel Messi

Considered one of the greatest soccer players ever, Messi plays as a forward for both Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and Argentina's national team.

Vid Music Group

A Miami-based event promoter that filed a lawsuit against Messi and the Argentine Football Association for fraud and breach of contract.

Argentine Football Association

The governing body for soccer in Argentina, named as a defendant in the lawsuit alongside Messi.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on the damages sought by Vid Music Group in the lawsuit against Messi and the Argentine Football Association.

The takeaway

This lawsuit highlights the immense value and expectations placed on top soccer stars like Messi, and the financial consequences that can result when they fail to fulfill contractual obligations to appear at high-profile events.