Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba have each been given a one-match ban for not participating in Major League Soccer’s All-Star Game earlier this week. Both players were absent from Wednesday’s match in Austin, Texas, where the MLS squad secured a 3-1 victory against Mexico’s Liga MX All-Stars.
“Per 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,” MLS stated on Friday. Consequently, the duo will miss Miami’s home league fixture against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to suspend Messi. “I know Lionel Messi loves this league,” Garber said. “I don’t think there’s a player – or anyone – who has done more for MLS than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision. Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game and we had to enforce it.” Garber also indicated that the league would “take a hard look at the policy moving forward.”
Argentine legend Messi, 38, has been in prolific form this MLS season, scoring 18 goals in as many appearances for Javier Mascherano’s side. Alba, 36, has featured 19 times in the league. The former Barcelona teammates also played a key role in Miami’s run to the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup.
Since their exit from that tournament at the hands of eventual finalists Paris Saint-Germain, Miami has played five matches this month, with Messi netting eight times. Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano had earlier told ESPN that Messi “showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he’s been playing,” adding, “players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days.”
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