Argentine football star Lionel Messi has been hit with a fraud lawsuit in the United States just before World Cup preparations. The case was filed by Miami-based event management company VID, which accused Messi of breaching a contract related to an exhibition match held last October. Under a $7 million agreement with the Argentine Football Association, Messi was required to play at least 30 minutes if not injured. However, he did not appear at all in the match against Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium, remaining in the stands throughout.

VID claims the situation worsened when Messi played for Inter Miami the following day against Atlanta United, suggesting he was fit and intentionally violated the contract. The company alleges that his absence reduced ticket sales and forced the venue to move from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, causing losses exceeding $1 million.

Despite the legal dispute, Messi remains in strong form on the field, having scored 83 goals in 96 matches for Inter Miami since joining in 2023. It remains to be seen how this legal complication might affect his World Cup preparations.