Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas revealed that Lionel Messi is “extremely upset” after being suspended for one match by MLS. The sanction is due to the absence of the Argentine star in the league’s All-Star game.
Lionel Messi is very upset, as we all are at the club, that he cannot play tomorrow night. But I think what we have to do as a club is to unite as one, have an us-against-the-world attitude.
Both Messi and Jordi Alba, who also missed Wednesday’s event, will not be available for Saturday’s match against FC Cincinnati, leaders of the MLS Eastern Conference. MLS rules state that any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior league approval will not be able to compete in their club’s next match.
MLS: Messi, Alba suspended for one match for not participating in the All-Star Game
Mas calificó la sanción como “draconiana”.
The executive confirmed that it was Inter Miami, and not the players, who made the decision not to participate in the event, prioritizing the health and well-being of both players due to the congestion of the current calendar.
Inter Miami informed the league on Monday and Tuesday that Messi and Alba would not attend the All-Star Game after playing nine matches in the last 36 days.
Since the beginning of the 2025 season, Inter Miami has participated in the Concacaf Champions League, the MLS regular season, the FIFA Club World Cup, and is now preparing to participate in the next edition of the Leagues Cup.
He assured that, if faced with a similar situation next year, a similar decision would be made.
Messi’s contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of the 2025 season. Negotiations for a new contract are ongoing.
But he replied that Messi is very upset, as expected, and that he hopes this will not affect his desire to extend his contract with the club in the long term.
