Indecopi to launch investigation after Lionel Messi’s absence from Meet and Greet event in Peru

Messi shirts were also sold out in stores in Lima, Peru for Wednesday night's game.

MLS forward, Lionel Messi was not present in the club’s Meet and Greet event before the pre-season encounter in Peru. Following the absence of Messi, Indecopi initiated an investigation as the fans were disappointed after not finding the Miami star in the event.

Fans had paid over 3,000 soles for the event but Messi opted out. However, the Argentine was part of Inter Miami’s lineup against Universitario de Deportes. Inter Miami went on to win the preseason game on penalties after a goalless draw.

Indecopi issued a formal statement, “In light of the complaints regarding the absence of footballer Lionel Messi at the Meet & Greet event prior to the friendly match between Inter Miami and Universitario de Deportes, Indecopi has launched actions to determine whether there has been a breach of advertising regulations and/or any infringement of consumer rights by the event organizers.”

📄#COMUNICADO | Indecopi informa lo siguiente ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/BBxMNECV0n
— Indecopi Oficial (@IndecopiOficial) January 29, 2025

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Indecopi is the National Consumer Protection Authority and they will take action to determine whether there has been a breach of advertising regulations. The organizing company has not yet made any statement on this event. As per the information on Ticketmaster, the Red Chair rate would have “1 entrance to the Red Chair Zone (West Stand), access to the Meet & Greet dinner with the presence of some players from Inter Miami, catering and transfer buses to the Monumental stadium”.

Craze for Lionel Messi in Peru was unreal

Before the game at Estadio Monumental, fans attended the meeting in the afternoon but they found Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez only, who took pictures and signed their shirts. Fans had expected to get the signed jerseys of Lionel Messi but they got disappointed.

Soccer fans in Peru were super excited to watch Messi play in Lima, Peru. The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner was also featured on a local newspaper with the headline “Dios está in Peru” or “God is here in Peru.” When Inter Miami’s bus arrived in Lima, fans welcomed Messi and Co with banners. Messi shirts were also sold out in stores in Lima, Peru for Wednesday night’s game.

🚨 Around 80,000 fans in Lima, Peru 🇵🇪 gathered to watch Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami take on Universitario in a friendly! 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/Urjqfxc34k
— Inter Miami News Hub (@Intermiamicfhub) January 30, 2025

Messi didn’t disappoint the Peruvian fans who booked tickets for the game. The Argentine clapped toward fans in a packed stadium after playing 72 minutes on Wednesday night. However, he failed to score any goal but his side beat Universitario 5-4 in the penalty shootout. Messi was on the scoresheet in Miami’s first preseason game on Jan. 19.

Julian Gressel, Santi Morales, David Ruiz, Benjamin Cremaschi and Yannick Bright all scored for Miami in shootout. Jairo Vélez was the only Universitario player to miss the penalty. Inter Miami will face Sporting San Miguelito in Panama, on Sunday and Club Deportivo Olimpia in Honduras, on Feb. 8.

Inter Miami

Lionel Messi

Major League Soccer

MLS

Universitario

Gulshan Sharma

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soccer

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.