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Jorge Mas, the owner of Inter Miami, strongly criticized Major League Soccer’s decision to suspend Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for one game.
Messi and Alba will be unavailable for Inter Miami’s upcoming match against Cincinnati FC on Saturday.
Both players opted out of the recent MLS All-Star game in Austin, Texas, even though they had received sufficient votes. The MLS All-Stars emerged victorious over the Liga MX All-Stars with a score of 3-1.
Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi in action against the New York Red Bulls at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, N.J., on July 19, 2025. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
Jorge Mas criticized the league’s decision as harsh, calling it a “draconian” punishment.
“They fail to grasp the rationale behind the decision,” Mas stated on Friday. “They do not comprehend why missing an exhibition match would result in a suspension.”
Messi, the captain of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning team, cited the need for rest as the reason for skipping the All-Star game. Alba, on the other hand, was nursing a previous injury.
According to MLS regulations, any player who fails to participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to play in their club’s subsequent match.
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami waving to the crowd alongside Jorge Mas, managing owner of Inter Miami, at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on July 20, 2024. (Scott McIntyre/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Messi and Alba participated in training with the club on Friday in anticipation of the upcoming match before the league announced the suspension.
“I know Lionel Messi has a deep affection for this league,” stated MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “I believe there is no player, or individual, who has contributed more to Major League Soccer than Messi. I completely understand, respect, and appreciate his dedication to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision.
“Unfortunately, we have a longstanding policy regarding All-Star Game participation, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult choice.”
Garber mentioned that the league will review the policy and collaborate with players to “determine how the rule should be updated.”
Inter Miami expressed their disagreement with the suspension and the rule. Mas highlighted that there were six MLS games on Friday night, less than 48 hours after the All-Star Game.
“That is unfair,” Mas remarked. “It is unfair to the players.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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