Through an official statement, Major League Soccer announced the suspension of Leo Messi and Jordi Alba from Inter Miami for not having activity in the All-Star Game
These players will not be eligible for their coach Javier Mascherano for the match against FC Cincinnati
These sensitive casualties come at a turning point in the North American league, as Miami is currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 21 points, so Mascherano will have to rely on his substitutes to try to avoid that the absence of his captain ends up costing him another victory.
Why did MLS suspend Leo Messi?
According to the regulations, by not participating in the All-Star Game without prior authorization from MLS, both Messi and Alba were suspended for one match.
The statement read: “Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF will not be available for their club’s match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26, due to their absence from this week’s MLS All-Star Game. According to league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior league approval is not eligible to compete in their club’s next match”.
Why didn’t Messi play in the All-Star Game?
The Argentine star has reportedly decided not to participate in the match between the MLS and Liga MX All-Stars, due to the heavy workload he has had in recent weeks, as well as to avoid future injuries, as the priority at the moment is for him to be in the best physical condition for the 2026 World Cup.
Regarding this decision, Javier Mascherano had already anticipated that Messi’s participation was in doubt due to previous physical discomfort:
“We’ve played four of the last five games away from home, and pretty much every three days. If they want to do these kind of events, they should stop the league at the weekend and then resume it”.Mascherano stressed the importance of prioritising the health of the players: “Football belongs to the players, and without them it does not exist. It cannot be that they play on a Wednesday and that there are teams playing again 48 hours later”.
Last year, Messi did not participate in the All-Star Game due to an ankle injury suffered with the Argentine national team in the Copa America. However, on that occasion, his exclusion, along with that of Alba, had been anticipated after his absence from training on the Monday prior to the event.
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