Second "bandit" scandal? Messi sued for 12 billion won over absurd no-show: "Didn't play in the match, lounged leisurely in the VIP section, just like Ronaldo."

*This content was translated by AI.

'Superstar' Lionel Messi (39·Inter Miami) has become embroiled in a massive damages lawsuit over controversy surrounding his 'no-show' in a friendly match for the national team.

Sports outlet ESPN reported on the 16th (Korean time) that event planning company VID filed a lawsuit against Messi and the Argentine Football Association (AFA), alleging serious breach of contract.

According to reports, VID invested $7 million (approximately 10.4 billion won) last October to secure the rights to host two friendly matches for the Argentina national team, against Venezuela on the 11th and Puerto Rico on the 14th. The contract included a mandatory clause requiring Lionel Messi to play at least 30 minutes in each match, provided he was not injured.

However, Messi sat in the VIP section with his family to watch the match against Venezuela at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, having been absent from the lineup. VID argued that this absence was not due to injury, citing as decisive evidence that Messi returned to his club, Inter Miami, the following day to play against Atlanta United, where he scored two goals and provided one assist.

According to VID, the relocation of the friendly match venue from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale at the request of the AFA resulted in additional costs of $1 million (approximately 1.6 billion won).

Messi played and scored in the match against Puerto Rico on the 14th, but VID stated that it failed to achieve the expected revenue due to setbacks including Messi's absence from the first match and a venue change. Having suffered a financial loss of approximately 12 billion won, VID is seeking compensation from Messi and the AFA, though neither side has yet issued an official statement.

The controversy surrounding Messi's absence recalls the "no-show" incident triggered by Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) during his visit to South Korea in July 2019 while playing for Juventus. At that time, Ronaldo drew the ire of Korean football fans by remaining on the bench for the entire 90 minutes of a friendly match against a K League team held at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

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*This content was translated by AI.