Messi sued for missing $7M soccer friendly in Miami

Event promoter alleges soccer star violated contract terms by skipping exhibition match

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:48am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a soccer match broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, conceptually representing the legal tensions between a star player and an event promoter.A legal dispute over a lucrative contract breach exposes the complex relationships between top athletes and event promoters.Today in Miami

Lionel Messi is being sued by a Miami-based event promoter, Vid Music Group, for fraud and breach of contract. The promoter claims Messi violated a $7 million contract by missing an exhibition soccer match in Miami last year.

Why it matters

Messi is one of the world's most famous and highest-paid athletes, so any legal dispute over a lucrative contract could have wider implications for the soccer industry and player-promoter relationships.

The details

According to the lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade circuit court, Vid Music Group says Messi agreed to a $7 million deal to play in an exhibition match in Miami in 2025, but the soccer star ultimately did not show up for the event.

  • The exhibition match was scheduled for 2025.
  • The lawsuit was filed in Miami-Dade circuit court last month.

The players

Lionel Messi

One of the world's most famous and highest-paid soccer players, who currently plays for the Argentine national team.

Vid Music Group

A Miami-based event promoter that filed the lawsuit against Messi and the Argentine Football Association.

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What’s next

The lawsuit is currently pending in Miami-Dade circuit court, and it remains to be seen how the legal dispute between Messi and the event promoter will be resolved.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex contractual relationships between top athletes like Messi and event promoters, and the potential legal consequences when high-profile sports stars fail to fulfill their obligations.