Major League Soccer has announced that Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will be suspended for their team’s next match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. The suspension comes after the two players skipped the MLS All-Star Game without permission earlier this week in Austin, Texas.
According to league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas has expressed his disapproval of the ruling, calling it “draconian” and stating that the players do not understand why attending an exhibition match would lead directly to a suspension.
However, MLS commissioner Don Garber defended the decision, saying that he respects Messi’s commitment to Inter Miami but must enforce the league’s policy. Garber also acknowledged that the rule has been in place for some time and is willing to review it with the players to make adjustments moving forward.
Messi and Alba will be eligible to return to the pitch on Wednesday when Inter takes on Atlas as part of their Leagues Cup campaign, but the suspension means that they will miss the team’s next MLS match against Orlando City SC on August 10. The loss of Messi and Alba is a significant blow to Inter Miami, who are currently in the middle of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/25/sport/mls-lionel-messi-jordi-alba-suspended-spt