Lionel Messi And Jordi Alba Suspended By Mls For Skipping All-star Game

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba person been suspended from their adjacent nine lucifer aft missing Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game against Mexico’s Liga MX.

Messi’s nine coach Javier Mascherano told reporters connected Friday nan Argentinian World Cup victor had sat retired nan showpiece owed to fatigue, while Alba is believed to person sustained a sound successful their erstwhile MLS fixture.

However, without support from nan league, some players were liable for sanction.

“Inter Miami CF defender Jordi Alba and guardant Lionel Messi will beryllium unavailable for nan club’s Matchday 27 crippled against FC Cincinnati connected Saturday evening, owed to their absence astatine nan 2025 MLS All-Star Game,” publication an MLS statement.

“Per convention rules, immoderate subordinate who does not participate successful nan All-Star Game without anterior support from nan convention is ineligible to compete successful their club’s adjacent match.”

Despite Messi being nan awesome prima of MLS, commissioner Don Garber said nan rules had to beryllium enforced without exception, though he was unfastened to a early amendment.

“I cognize Lionel Messi loves this league. I don’t deliberation there’s a subordinate – aliases anyone – who has done much for Major League Soccer than Messi,” he said.

“I afloat understand, respect, and respect his committedness to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision.

“Unfortunately, we person a long-standing argumentation regarding information successful nan All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.

“That said, we’re going to return a difficult look astatine nan argumentation moving forward. I’m committed to moving pinch our players to find really nan norm should evolve.”