NEW YORK – Major League Soccer has suspended Lionel Messi for one match after the Inter Miami star skipped Wednesday’s All-Star Game without prior league approval, a decision that has sparked controversy and promises of policy review. The Argentine icon and teammate Jordi Alba—both healthy but rested by their club—will miss Saturday’s crucial home match against Eastern Conference leaders FC Cincinnati.
MLS enforced its long-standing rule mandating All-Star participation for rostered players, with Commissioner Don Garber calling the suspension “very difficult” but necessary. “I respect Messi’s commitment to Inter Miami,” Garber said, acknowledging the 36-year-old’s transformative impact on the league. But he conceded the policy may need modernization: “We’ll work with players to determine how this rule should evolve.” The clash highlights tensions between MLS’s North American exhibition traditions and global soccer’s prioritization of competitive fixtures.
Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas blasted the “draconian” rule, revealing the club proactively rested Messi and Alba during a congested schedule. “The real victims are fans, sponsors, and our team,” Mas said, noting no appeal option exists. The suspension sidelines Messi amid his stellar 18-goal season, depriving a sold-out crowd of seeing MLS’s biggest draw. As the league balances commercial interests with player welfare, the incident may accelerate changes to All-Star participation mandates—especially for aging superstars carrying heavy workloads.