Lionel Messi

VID Music Group sues Lionel Messi, the AFA and a sports executive in Florida, alleging breach of contract and fraud following Messi's absence from the Argentina–Venezuela match on 10 October 2025. The promoter maintains that Messi's participation for at least 30 minutes, unless injured, formed part of the agreement's commercial value; Messi plays for Inter Miami the following day.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Accused

Messi remains on the bench during a heavily promoted Inter Miami friendly in Hong Kong despite advertising centred on his presence. Nearly 40,000 spectators demand refunds and the local government expresses anger. His appearance for around thirty minutes in Japan a few days later amplifies the controversy and fuels allegations in China of political motivation; the organiser subsequently offers a 50% refund.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Messi becomes a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia. Families of political prisoners and human rights organisations urge him not to lend his image to the kingdom, which they accuse of using sport to improve its reputation. Documents reported in 2023 value the contract at approximately 25 million dollars over three years and provide for numerous promotional obligations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

PSG suspends Messi after a trip to Saudi Arabia when a training session had subsequently been scheduled. He misses the session, in a context where he is also a tourism ambassador for the kingdom.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A complaint targeting Messi, several family members and his foundation over tax, accounting and fraud offences and money laundering leads to an investigation by the Audiencia Nacional. Following an investigation described as complex and exhaustive, the judge closes the case in 2021, having found no criminal conduct by those accused.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Messi formally notifies FC Barcelona that he wishes to leave immediately, invoking a clause that he believes allows him to terminate his contract without payment. The club and LaLiga maintain instead that the clause no longer applies and that a 700-million-euro release fee remains payable. Messi ultimately announces that he will stay to avoid taking his club to court and sharply criticises Josep Maria Bartomeu's management.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following the 2019 Copa América, Messi accuses CONMEBOL of corruption and claims that the competition was organised in Brazil's favour. He also refuses to attend the medal ceremony after the third-place match. CONMEBOL suspends him from Argentina duty for three months and fines him 50,000 dollars.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Panama Papers reveal that Lionel Messi and his father owned Mega Star Enterprises, a Panamanian company first appearing in the documents shortly after the opening of the Spanish tax case in 2013. Further documents published in 2018 indicate that a Mossack Fonseca office still considered the company active in 2016.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Attribution

Directly implicated

Spanish courts find Lionel Messi guilty of three tax offences involving approximately 4.1 million euros in income from his image rights between 2007 and 2009. The Supreme Court upholds his sentence of 21 months' imprisonment and a fine of approximately 2.1 million euros in May 2017. In July 2017, the prison sentence is replaced by an additional fine of 250,000 euros.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Accused

Spain's Guardia Civil investigates a series of 'Messi and Friends' charity matches organised in 2012 and 2013, suspecting that traffickers may have used the events to launder money. Accounts belonging to the Leo Messi Foundation are requested, and Messi and other players are questioned about how the matches operated.