Fans cheering at a Major League Soccer match, showcasing the lively atmosphere.
Major League Soccer has suspended Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for one match after they missed the All-Star Game in Austin, Texas. The players from Inter Miami will not participate in the upcoming game against FC Cincinnati due to this suspension, which is in line with league policy for absence without prior medical approval. Messi was rested due to fatigue, while Alba had a minor injury. The league plans to review its participation policies to better address player welfare in future seasons.
Major League Soccer (MLS) announced on Friday that Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, players from Inter Miami, have been suspended for one match following their absence from the MLS All-Star Game held in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday night. The suspension will cause both players to miss Inter Miami’s upcoming game against FC Cincinnati scheduled for Saturday, July 26.
The league’s policy stipulates that players who do not participate in the All-Star Game without prior medical approval are subject to a one-game suspension. Messi and Alba, despite being voted into the All-Star team by fans and media, did not attend the match. The league confirmed their suspension in a statement, citing their failure to appear as the reason for their ineligibility to participate in their next scheduled game.
Both players were absent from the All-Star event due to separate reasons. Lionel Messi was rested because of fatigue, stemming from an intense schedule of matches involving various competitions and club commitments. Jordi Alba, on the other hand, was dealing with a minor injury, which was cited as the reason for his non-attendance. Despite missing the event, both players participated in training sessions with Inter Miami prior to the suspension announcement.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged Messi’s significant impact on the league, emphasizing his contributions to MLS and Inter Miami. Garber described the decision to suspend Messi and Alba as “very difficult” but stressed the importance of upholding league policies. He also indicated that the league would review and potentially modify the current policy regarding All-Star Game participation to better accommodate player rest and injury management in future seasons.
Inter Miami’s head coach Javier Mascherano highlighted the congested schedule faced by the team, noting that the club has recently played four of their last five games away from home and participated in multiple tournaments. Mascherano called for better scheduling practices to prevent similar conflicts and ensure players receive adequate rest, especially for high-profile players like Messi and Alba who are integral to team and league marketing efforts.
FC Cincinnati’s coach, Pat Noonan, stated that his team prepared for their upcoming match against Inter Miami without the expectation of facing Messi and Alba, as they were aware of the players’ absences. The suspension mirrors a previous incident in 2018, when Zlatan Ibrahimović was also suspended for missing the MLS All-Star Game without prior approval, highlighting a recurring issue regarding player participation policies in the league.
Messi’s current contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of the 2025 season. There have been ongoing discussions about extending his stay beyond that period, given his impactful presence both on and off the field. Additionally, the league recently launched a “Player Spotlight” initiative on TikTok featuring Messi, which achieved record viewership figures last season, underpinning his status as a significant figure in MLS and digital engagement efforts.
Meanwhile, the league continues to evaluate its policies to balance the interests of players, teams, and marketing efforts, with this suspension serving as a reminder of the importance of clear rules and scheduling considerations within Major League Soccer.
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