{"id":1882573,"date":"2026-04-14T23:06:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T20:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1882573"},"modified":"2026-04-14T23:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T20:06:09","slug":"lionel-messi-argentina-soccer-sued-over-no-show-at-exhibitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1882573","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi, Argentina Soccer Sued Over No-Show At Exhibitions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/f1\/16by9\/2026\/04\/14\/f10f3f22e7a748558194a55feced96db_xl.png&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"article article--permalink \">\n<header class=\"article__header\">\n<h1 class=\"article__header--headline-title\">Lionel Messi, Argentina Soccer Sued Over No-Show At Exhibitions<\/h1>\n<h2 class=\"article__header--headline-fragments\"><span class=\"article__header--hf1 text-uppercase h3\">Lionel Messi<\/span><span class=\"article__header--hf2 text-uppercase h1\">Sued Over No-Show At Exhibition Games<\/span><span class=\"article__header--hf3 text-none h2\">&#8230; You Cost Us Millions!!!<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"social-media-container\" role=\"region\">\n<ul class=\"social social--sm\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"media-swipe\">Exclusive<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\">\n<li class=\"social-item\"><\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tmz.com\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"js-track-link\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"google-preferred-btn\" src=\"https:\/\/static.tmz.com\/tmz-web\/img\/article\/google-preferred-source.png\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"byline\">By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/pages\/about\/\">TMZ Staff<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"date-wrapper\">\n                                                                        Published <time class=\"published-datetime\" datetime=\"2026-04-14T16:06:09-07:00\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/sitemaps\/article\/202604\"><br \/>\n                April 14, 2026<br \/>\n                <\/a><br \/>\n                            4:06 PM PDT<\/time><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"article__blocks clearfix\">\n<section id=\"cb-3fff70f82e405a452068237e9e9d35df\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  canvas-block-is-first \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_png_20260414_f10f3f22e7a748558194a55feced96db\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:7e9ed889-9528-4c52-bcd3-64829674a8d9\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/f1\/4by3\/2026\/04\/14\/f10f3f22e7a748558194a55feced96db_md.png\" alt=\"lionel messi afa main getty\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-105005c8c35bf75a8c722837d3b0ab14\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>Red card for <strong>Lionel Messi<\/strong> &#8230; who is at the center of a bombshell lawsuit in Florida, with a promoter claiming the soccer legend left them bleeding cash on a pair of hyped up friendlies that they claim he blew off.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-634c5cd1e9d9aeb95e66b0e0aefd4084\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>VID, a Miami-based company that puts on large-scale music and sporting events, according to court docs obtained by <strong>TMZ Sports<\/strong>, filed a lawsuit against the 38-year-old footballer and the Argentine Football Association on Tuesday in South Florida, alleging fraud and breach of contract, saying they were burned out of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-7723af53fc6475f3525e7d70b2b9054c\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>In August, VID says they struck a deal and ultimately paid the AFA $7 million for the exclusive rights to two exhibition match-ups scheduled for October &#8212; Argentina vs. Venezuela, and Argentina vs. Puerto Rico.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-c109835079da7157381375a4c210d093\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_png_20260414_d83a7bd1ba4f428ca207f83649937098\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:7e9ed889-9528-4c52-bcd3-64829674a8d9\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/d8\/4by3\/2026\/04\/14\/d83a7bd1ba4f428ca207f83649937098_md.png\" alt=\"lionel messi sub getty 3\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-202281c609adfcafe113e5ea59eed95b\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>They claim Messi was contractually obligated to play at least 30 minutes in each game unless he was injured. In other words, Argentina was playing, but Messi was the draw.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-2c89a8510fc76054dd924b2a7f3cc7ba\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>Unfortunately, VID says Lionel bailed on his obligation, deciding not to play &#8230; and instead watching the game with his family from a luxury suite. Adding insult to injury, the promoter says they footed the bill for those costs.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-d33a41ddc015a4bdff53c499e22f0007\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>VID says Messi wasn&#8217;t injured &#8230; and they say they know that because he played the very next day, lacing up his cleats and scoring two goals and an assist for Inter Miami.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-00220d29cd24908633d832121fe7d98c\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_png_20260414_f04e20064edc44e0afc38647352fe533\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:7e9ed889-9528-4c52-bcd3-64829674a8d9\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/f0\/4by3\/2026\/04\/14\/f04e20064edc44e0afc38647352fe533_md.png\" alt=\"lionel messi sub getty\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-8f17c50be4964636ef16e83e7ca3cd2c\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>The second friendly, just a few days later, was also a mess, according to VID, who says they were forced to move the game from Chicago to a small arena in Ft. Lauderdale over civil unrest in the Windy City, resulting in the loss of over a million bucks, according to the suit.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-959ffba9355f296d609d430827397155\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>After the disastrous games, VID says AFA promised to make things right with future matchups against China in 2026, but it never came to fruition.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-b42bbd899758f6b911a6816024b2e1be\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-image-block canvas-image-block-permalink canvas-image-block--default  \">\n<div class=\"image-block\"><a class=\"js-click-image js-track-link image-lightbox-preview\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:image-asset:image_png_20260414_d86779e7b6014f20a009eb4ab053c5b7\" data-container-ref=\"tmz:article:7e9ed889-9528-4c52-bcd3-64829674a8d9\" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"image\"}'><\/p>\n<div class=\"img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/d8\/4by3\/2026\/04\/14\/d86779e7b6014f20a009eb4ab053c5b7_md.png\" alt=\"lionel messi sub getty 2\" width=\"728\" height=\"546\" class=\"img-fluid image-block__img-fluid img-aspect-auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"image-block__card-footer\"><span class=\"media-credit image-block__media-credit\">Getty<\/span><\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-4fbfcb267c099f04ee5f477c9d56303d\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>While it&#8217;s unclear exactly how much cash VID is seeking, they claim they&#8217;ve lost millions, and they want to be made whole, plus some.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-835d6a21e4d833d3fb47c7ed80b266d6\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>We reached out to the AFA and Messi&#8217;s team for comment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"cb-3b4a2be0833680bd48ff9f98d5c6608c\" class=\"canvas-block canvas-block-permalink canvas-text-block canvas-text-block-permalink canvas-text-block--default  canvas-block-is-last \" data-context='{\"section\":\"permalink\",\"name\":\"text_block\"}'>\n<p>So far, no word back.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<ul class=\"social social--permalink\">\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--facebook js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/04\/14\/lionel-messi-argentina-soccer-sued-over-no-show-friendlies\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:7e9ed889-9528-4c52-bcd3-64829674a8d9\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"facebook-footer\",\"pos\":1}'><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><a class=\"btn social__btn social__btn--x js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/04\/14\/lionel-messi-argentina-soccer-sued-over-no-show-friendlies\/\" data-node-ref=\"tmz:article:7e9ed889-9528-4c52-bcd3-64829674a8d9\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"twitter-footer\",\"pos\":2}'><br \/>\n                Share<span class=\"social__hide-sm\"> on X<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"social__item social__item--3items\"><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"related-articles\">\n<header class=\"card-section-header related-articles__card-section-header\">\n<h3 class=\"card-section-title related-articles__card-section-title\">\n              Related articles<br \/>\n            <\/h3>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"row related-articles__row\">\n<div 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data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":4}'><br \/>\n                Soccer<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/exclusive\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":5}'><br \/>\n                Exclusive<br \/>\n              <\/a><a class=\"tag-cloud__list-group-item js-track-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/categories\/fairly-legal\/\" data-context='{\"section\":\"main\",\"name\":\"tag-cloud\",\"pos\":6}'><br \/>\n                Fairly Legal<br \/>\n              <\/a><\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.tmz.com\/2026\/04\/14\/lionel-messi-argentina-soccer-sued-over-no-show-friendlies\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/f1\/16by9\/2026\/04\/14\/f10f3f22e7a748558194a55feced96db_xl.png&#8221;] Lionel Messi, Argentina Soccer Sued Over No-Show At Exhibitions Lionel MessiSued Over No-Show At Exhibition Games&#8230; You Cost Us Millions!!! Exclusive By TMZ Staff Published April 14, 2026 4:06 PM PDT Getty Red card for Lionel Messi &#8230; who is at the center of a bombshell lawsuit in Florida, with a promoter [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,77],"class_list":["post-1882573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tmz-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1882573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1882573"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1882573\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1882573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1882573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1882573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}