MLS fans win lawsuit after Lionel Messi no-show
Major League Soccer and the Vancouver Whitecaps will have to pay out as part of a class-action lawsuit filed by supporters.
The importance of Lionel Messi to MLS cannot be overstated and the Argentine’s value was quantified this week in a class-action lawsuit, settled in favor of a group of fans. MLS and the Vancouver Whitecaps will have to pay out a substantial amount of money in response to a lawsuit which claimed that both parties incorrectly suggesting that Messi would be taking part in a game.
The Athletic reports that MLS and the Whitecaps have been ordered to pay out after Messi missed a 2024 game with Inter Miami. Messi had featured prominently in the pre-game publicity content, pushing up the price of the tickets for fans.
In 2024, Vancouver Whitecaps & MLS heavily promoted a game v Inter Miami featuring Messi, Suarez and Busquets, hiking prices. Then the stars didn’t show. And now a class action lawsuit on behalf of fans has led to a $347k settlement
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) March 3, 2026
Story @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/jqg1TNAohT
Along with Messi, both Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets did not feature for Inter Miami in the game, denying fans the chance to see the former Barcelona legends in the flesh.
“We understand people’s frustration, but we have to look out for the club and our players. We understand that Messi has revolutionized the league, but we have to look out for the health of the team,” declared then-Inter Miami coach Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino after the game, which Miami won 2-1.
How much will the Messi absence cost?
Now, two years later, it has been revealed that MLS and the Vancouver Whitecaps will have to pay out around $347,000 as a result of the lawsuit, but it won’t be going to supporters. Instead, the money will be split between three sports-related charities: KidSport BC, Canada SCORES and BGC South Coast BC. The settlement also included promises to change ticket-selling practices to provide greater clarity to customers.
@asusaofficial 🚨 MLS and Vancouver Whitecaps agree to pay out in class-action lawsuit Fans felt misled when Lionel Messi sat out a game back in 2024. But what do you think about the precedent it sets for future? #mls #soccernews #intermiamicf #vancouverwhitecaps @Will Gittins
♬ Money On My Mind - The808Wizrd
A statement from the Whitecaps reads: “The settlement in the class-action lawsuit related to the May 25, 2024 MLS regular season match against Inter Miami has received approval from the Supreme Court of British Columbia. The settlement will be implemented in accordance with the terms of the agreement.”
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