Messi and Alba handed bans for skipping All-Star Game, Inter Miami ownership responds with frustration
Lionel Messi is reportedly furious with Major League Soccer after receiving a one-match suspension for missing the MLS All-Star Game. The decision has not only upset the Argentine star but has also triggered backlash from Inter Miami’s top leadership.
Messi and Alba Suspended for Missing All-Star Clash
MLS confirmed the suspensions of Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for failing to appear in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, held last Thursday against the Liga MX All-Stars. As a result, both players will miss Inter Miami’s next league match against Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati.
The decision has sparked controversy within the club. Inter Miami’s co-owner Jorge Mas publicly expressed his dissatisfaction:
“Leo Messi is very angry. I hope this doesn’t have a lasting impact. Will it affect how he sees the league and its rules? Without a doubt.”
Mas emphasized that Messi is not just any player:
“Lionel is different from others. He wants to play matches that actually matter. He is very, very angry, but we must come together as a unit – it’s us against the world, and that needs to show in our results in the second half of the season.”
Growing Tension Between MLS and Inter Miami?
The tension raises questions about MLS’s disciplinary approach, especially when it involves global icons like Messi, whose presence in the league has dramatically boosted its visibility and commercial success.
Although the All-Star Game is considered a showpiece event, many fans and pundits argue that punishing players for prioritizing club commitments or recovery over a friendly match could backfire—particularly when those players are the league’s most important ambassadors.
What’s Next for Messi?
With Messi set to miss the upcoming match against FC Cincinnati, it remains to be seen how this decision will impact his relationship with the league going forward. While there’s no indication of long-term consequences yet, Jorge Mas’s comments suggest that the situation is being taken seriously inside the Inter Miami camp.
