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Miami Promoter Sues Lionel Messi and AFA Over Alleged $7 Million Match Deal Breach

The filing spotlights the legal risk when promoters pay for games built on star appearance promises.

Overview

  • Vid Music Group filed the fraud and breach-of-contract suit in Miami-Dade circuit court last month after paying $7 million for exclusive rights to two Argentina friendlies.
  • The company says the contract required Lionel Messi to play at least 30 minutes in each match unless he was injured.
  • VID alleges Messi did not play against Venezuela and watched from a suite it booked, then suited up for Inter Miami the next day and scored twice.
  • The Puerto Rico game was moved from Chicago’s Soldier Field to a smaller venue in Fort Lauderdale, with VID claiming losses of more than $1 million and the reason disputed between immigration crackdowns and low ticket sales.
  • VID says promised make-good fixtures in China for 2026 never happened, it claims it lost millions, and Messi’s camp and the AFA have not responded to requests for comment.