“Messi in trouble: Court investigates absence from friendly match.”

Lionel Messi at the center of an explosive legal battle in the United States! The Inter Miami star and the Argentine Football Association (AFA) are facing a bombshell lawsuit that could shake the foundations of international football. This is all because Messi did not participate in a friendly match for the Argentine national team, an incident that is triggering a real legal earthquake in Miami.

VID Music Group, the event organizer based in the city, has filed a heavy complaint against Messi, the AFA, and agent Julian Marcos Kapelan, with no fewer than ten serious charges. The reason? Messi’s unexpected absence from the friendly against Venezuela, held in October at Hard Rock Stadium, which compromised the entire spectacle and the event’s revenues.

According to the allegations, Messi conspired with Kapelan and the federation to induce VID into signing contracts under false pretenses. The charges include negligent statements and unlawful interference in contracts, casting doubt on the integrity of those involved. The AFA is not off the hook either, facing accusations of multiple breaches of contract, not only for the match against Venezuela but also for another game against Puerto Rico and for future matches scheduled for June 2026 in the U.S. Agent Kapelan is also under scrutiny for alleged fraud.

The Argentine federation has reacted firmly, promising to “vigorously defend itself” and counterattack by demanding payment of millions of dollars that are allegedly owed to them by the same entities that are now suing them.

The epicenter of this storm is the match on October 10, during the FIFA international window, where Argentina defeated Venezuela 1-0. However, the MLS, the league where Messi plays, did not suspend its games for that date. Interestingly, the following day, Messi played for Inter Miami, where he scored two goals in a 4-0 victory against Atlanta United, raising suspicions about his true availability for the national team commitment.

Two days later, the star played again for Argentina against Puerto Rico, in a 6-0 rout where he provided two assists. This match, also promoted by VID, was moved to Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale due to security issues in the original city, Chicago, which had already affected ticket sales.

VID Music Group reveals that it was only informed of Messi’s absence the day before the match against Venezuela, with no official communication from the AFA, which resulted in a significant drop in attendance at the stadium — only 15,000 spectators, about 23% of total capacity. To worsen the situation, VID claims to have paid for the box where Messi was photographed watching the game with his family, a clear indication that the player chose not to take the field.

The contract between VID and AFA stipulated that Messi should play at least 30 minutes in each match, except in cases of illness or injury, with his participation being one of the main economic drivers of the events. Furthermore, it was stipulated that 25% of the contract value would be paid if Messi did not play — a sum that has yet to be paid by the AFA. VID also claims financial losses exceeding 1.2 million euros, exacerbated by the relocation of the match against Puerto Rico.

This case promises to prolong and could set a dangerous precedent for the relationship between clubs, national teams, and private promoters, in a scenario where the name of Lionel Messi continues to be synonymous with media power and economic impact. The American justice system will now decide whether the Argentine star and his federation will have to pay a high price for this controversial absence that is dividing the football world. Stay tuned: this story is far from over!

This article first appeared on Apito Final.