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Jorge Mas, the owner of Inter Miami, grew Major League Soccer’s decision to suspend Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for a game.
Messi and Alba will be marginalized for the Inter Miami match against Cincinnati FC of Cincinnati FC, leader of the East Conference, Saturday.
Both players skipped Wednesday’s All-Star game in Austin, Texas, despite receiving enough votes. The Major Leagues all-stars defeated the MX All-Stars League 3-1.
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Inter Miami CF striker Lionel Messi in action against the Red Bulls in New York during the second half in Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, NJ, July 19, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn images)
But but he said that the decision of the League was a “draconian” punishment.
“They don’t understand the decision,” said more on Friday. “They do not understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension.”
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Messi, the captain of the World Cup World Cup champion team in Argentina, cited the need to rest instead of competing in the star game. Meanwhile, Alba was dealing with a previous injury.
But he said the club made the decision of Messi and Alba to sit down the game of stars.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami greets the crowd with Jorge Mas, manager of Inter Miami, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 20, 2024. (Scott McIntyre/Bloomberg through Getty Images)
According to the MLS rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star game without the previous approval of the League is not eligible to compete in the next game of his club.
The Inter Miami CF striker, Lionel Messi, looks up during the second half against the New York Red Bulls at the Sports Illustrated stadium in Harrison, NJ, July 19, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn images)
Messi and Alba practiced with the club on Friday in advance of playing in Saturday’s game before the MLS announced the suspension.
“I know that Lionel Messi loves this league,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “I don’t think there is a player, or anyone, who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I understand, respect and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and respect his decision.
“Unfortunately, we have a long data policy regarding the participation in the game of stars, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.”
Garber added that the League will reassess the policy and will work with the players to “determine how the rule should evolve.”
But he said that Inter Miami expressed its disagreement about suspension and rule. But he also pointed out that there were six MLS games on Friday night, less than 48 hours after a game of stars.
“That’s not right,” he said more. “That is not correct for players.”
