Lionel Messi Receives One-Game Suspension from Major League Soccer

Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, key players for Inter Miami, have been handed a one-match suspension by Major League Soccer (MLS) after failing to appear in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game. Despite fan and media votes placing them in the lineup, both players skipped the showcase clash between the MLS All-Stars and Liga MX All-Stars in Austin, Texas.

This disciplinary decision has sparked discussion throughout the football world, especially given the heavy workload Messi has undertaken over the past months, including his international duties and his long list of Champions League appearances throughout his career.

Major League Soccer enforces a rule that requires any healthy player selected for the All-Star Game to participate unless granted prior exemption by the league. In this case, neither Messi nor Alba received formal approval to skip the match. Inter Miami confirmed on game day that both stars would not feature.

According to an official MLS statement:

"Any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match."

As a result, Messi and Alba will miss Inter Miami’s upcoming league match against top-of-the-table FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Lionel Messi’s absence was attributed to load management. Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano defended the decision, stating that Messi had just returned to training the day before the All-Star Game and was experiencing natural fatigue after an intense schedule.

Mascherano pointed to Inter Miami’s involvement in multiple tournaments, including the Club World Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup, and Leagues Cup. This congested schedule mirrors the intensity Messi was accustomed to during his time at Barcelona and PSG, where he accumulated over 150 Champions League appearances. That legacy of consistent play at the highest level has clearly taken a toll.

Mascherano said:

"We're the MLS team that's played the most this year — by far. It's case-by-case, and we have objective arguments."

MLS Commissioner Don Garber Speaks Out

MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the unique challenge Messi faces:

"He's played nine matches in 30 days. Miami's had a schedule unlike any other team. Most clubs had a 10-day break — Miami hasn't."

Garber emphasized the importance of enforcing league rules while also hinting at possible future revisions:

"I fully respect Lionel Messi's commitment to the league. But we have a long-standing All-Star Game policy, and we had to enforce it. That said, we’re going to take a hard look at the rule moving forward."

Unlike in European football — including the Champions League where Lionel Messi built his reputation — All-Star games are not customary. This makes MLS’s policy feel somewhat out of place in the global context.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was previously suspended under similar circumstances in 2018 and famously said:

"I come from a different world — the real world."

Lionel Messi’s suspension once again puts the spotlight on whether All-Star matches should carry such heavy consequences, especially for global stars accustomed to international rather than midseason exhibitions.

Messi’s extensive Champions League appearances over nearly two decades have significantly shaped his career. With over 160 appearances and countless high-pressure matches, his body has endured elite competition at the highest level. This context helps explain Inter Miami’s concern over managing his workload — especially in a league with different expectations like MLS.

While Lionel Messi’s one-game suspension may seem minor, it reveals broader tensions between American soccer customs and the global norms shaped by tournaments like the UEFA Champions League. With Messi’s unmatched experience and high number of Champions League appearances, it’s essential for MLS to strike a balance between marketing ambitions and the physical demands placed on aging global stars.