Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba were two of the Inter Miami stars selected for the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday, but neither player ended up traveling to Austin, Texas. As a result, both the Argentine and the Spaniard have reportedly been handed a last-minute suspension.
Their absence raised eyebrows among fans, especially since both were deemed fit in Inter Miami’s last match against the New York Red Bulls. With no official explanation provided—whether due to injury or illness—the situation drew criticism, and now, disciplinary action appears to be in place.
According to Tom Bogert of GIVEMESPORT, MLS announced Friday that Messi and Alba will be suspended for Inter Miami’s upcoming match against FC Cincinnati. League rules stipulate that players who skip the MLS All-Star Game without a valid medical reason are subject to a one-game suspension, which will reportedly sideline the duo this Saturday.
Earlier Friday, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano—who had emphasized the need for his stars to rest—addressed Messi’s condition: “He showed normal fatigue from the number of matches and minutes he’s been playing. Players always have discomfort, especially when playing every three days. Fortunately, today he’ll rejoin training, and we hope he can train alongside the group so we can count on both of them for tomorrow’s match.”
Inter Miami’s position on the suspension
When speaking to reporters, Mascherano said the club had not received any formal notice regarding a suspension at the time. However, the reported decision came just hours later, representing a significant blow ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Eastern Conference leaders.
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Asked about a potential suspension, Mascherano defended the club’s situation: “It’s not about whether I think so or not. The reality is that there are different cases, and we have our arguments — and our arguments are objective and clear for everyone to see: we are by far the MLS team that has played the most matches so far this half of the season.
“In fact, you can see it yourselves — we’re having to move dates, pushing games to October like the one against Atlanta, and now we don’t even have a set schedule for what might happen with the Leagues Cup,” Mascherano added, emphasizing the toll of the team’s congested calendar.
