Miami promoter sues Messi and AFA for alleged breach of contract

MIAMI. – The American company VID Music Group filed a lawsuit against soccer player Lionel Messi and the Argentine Football Association for an alleged breach of contract related to two friendly matches played in October 2025. You may be interested in: Leonardo Fernández will undergo knee surgery and miss upcoming matches with Peñarol According to court documents, the promoter claims to have acquired for seven million dollars the exclusive rights to organize and promote the matches of the Argentine national team against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. However, it maintains that the agreed conditions were not met. The main claim revolves around Messi's absence in the first match, held on October 10 against Venezuela. According to the lawsuit, the contract stipulated that the player had to participate for at least 30 minutes, unless there were justified reasons. The company claims that the non-participation of the star significantly affected attendance, which was around 15,000 people, generating economic losses. Additionally, the company indicated that it was notified of the player's absence a few hours before the event, which impacted the public's confidence in subsequent commitments. Regarding the second friendly match against Puerto Rico, the promoter alleged additional losses estimated at 1.3 million dollars. The match, originally scheduled in Chicago, was moved to Florida, which reduced the stadium's capacity and limited the time available for its promotion and ticket sales. Furthermore, the plaintiffs point out that, as compensation, the AFA would have promised the organization of three matches in China, which —according to the complaint— were never carried out. The legal action includes multiple charges, including breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and alleged fraudulent inducement, and also involves an agent linked to the negotiations. The case is ongoing in the Miami-Dade County judicial system, while the prosecutor announced that she will offer more details at a press conference in the coming days.