The Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer have been forced to pay $347,000 over a 2024 regular-season game which saw Lionel Messi fail to show up after appearing in promotional material. During his well-hyped first full season in MLS, Messi featured heavily in marketing by the Whitecaps and the league ahead of Inter Miami's trip to Vancouver in May of that year. Advertising the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner allowed the team to ramp up prices and maximize ticket revenue when Miami came to town, with his fellow ex-Barcelona stars and Inter teammates Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets also included in the promotions. His lawyers argued that he was aware of the promotional materials including Messi, Suarez and Busquets before doing so, which 'represented, implied or suggested' that all three of them would play. The Whitecaps and MLS have settled a class-action lawsuit against them for $347,000The Whitecaps and MLS denied liability and any part in the decision for Messi, Suarez and Busquets not to play.

Source: Daily Mail March 03, 2026 15:29 UTC