Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed suspensions to Inter Miami’s star players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba following their absence from the All-Star events this week.
Both Messi and Alba were selected for the MLS All-Star Game but did not take part in the skills challenge on Tuesday, nor did they appear in the All-Star match against a LigaMX select team on Wednesday.
According to MLS regulations, players who miss the All-Star game without prior approval face disciplinary action. Consequently, Messi and Alba have been handed one-match suspensions, rendering them unavailable for Inter Miami’s upcoming league clash against Cincinnati on Saturday.
Inter Miami’s managing owner, Jorge Mas, expressed his dissatisfaction with the league’s decision, revealing that Messi is “extremely upset” about the suspension. Mas also stated, “I don’t agree with the rule, and I have communicated my views clearly to the commissioner.”
This incident highlights ongoing tensions between MLS policies and player commitments, particularly involving marquee signings like Messi, whose absence at key league events underscores the challenges of balancing individual priorities with league expectations.
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