Ex-Barcelona Ace Messi Sued by Former Club over Image Rights

Former Barcelona Ace Messi Sued by Ex-Club Over Image RightsFormer Barcelona Ace Messi Sued by Ex-Club Over Image Rights Football legend Lionel Messi has been sued by his former club Barcelona over image rights. The lawsuit, filed in a Spanish court, claims that Messi failed to fulfill his contractual obligations related to the use of his image by the club. According to the lawsuit, Messi’s contract with Barcelona required him to grant the club exclusive rights to use his image for commercial purposes. However, the club alleges that Messi has violated these terms by allowing third parties to use his likeness without authorization. The lawsuit specifically cites Messi’s partnership with the cryptocurrency platform Socios.com. Barcelona claims that Messi has allowed Socios.com to use his image in promotional campaigns without the club’s permission. The club is seeking unspecified damages from Messi, which could potentially amount to millions of euros. The lawsuit also requests an injunction to prevent Messi from using his image for commercial purposes without Barcelona’s approval. Messi’s representatives have not yet commented on the lawsuit. However, the situation highlights the increasingly complex issue of image rights in the world of professional sports. As athletes become more influential and their images become more valuable, clubs and companies are keen to secure exclusive rights to their use. This legal battle could set a precedent for future disputes over image rights in the industry. The lawsuit is also a reminder of the acrimonious departure of Messi from Barcelona in 2021. The Argentine forward left the club as a free agent after failing to agree on a new contract, and his relationship with the club has reportedly soured since then.