March 3 – The Vancouver Whitecaps and Major League Soccer will pay $347,000 to settle a class-action lawsuit filed in Canada after Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi did not appear in a 2024 game as advertised.
The British Columbia Supreme Court approved the settlement, The Athletic reported on Tuesday.
The Whitecaps heavily promoted the appearance of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner ahead of a May 25, 2024 game, anticipating a record-breaking crowd at Vancouver’s BC Place stadium. Ticket prices skyrocketed.
Unfortunately, Messi, who was playing his first full season in MLS that year, ended up not traveling to the game — along with fellow standouts Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets — because then-Miami coach Tata Martino said he wanted to