Inter Miami can move to within four points of the top of the MLS’s Eastern Conference by defeating leaders FC Cincinnati on Saturday (July 26), although they will be without talisman Lionel Messi and former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba for the clash at Chase Park.
Lionel Messi’s absence against Cincinnati explained
The Argentina captain has played the full 90 minutes of each of The Herons’ last 12 MLS games but won’t play against The Orange and Blue due to suspension. After much speculation, both Messi and Alba were handed one-match bans for refusing to take part in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday (July 23).
“Inter Miami CF’s Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi will be unavailable for the club’s match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26, due to their absence at this week’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game,” read an official MLS statement. “Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match.”
MLS Commissioner Don Garber admitted to the Miami Herald that no player “has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi” but that the league “had to enforce” the policy.
Why didn’t Messi and Alba play in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game?
Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano explained his veteran stars had pulled out of the game they had been voted into because of the team’s hectic recent schedule.
“There shouldn’t be a date in the schedule. It’s crazy. We’ve been playing four of the last five games away. We’ve been playing four away. We’ve been playing practically every three days.
“Stop for the weekend, the All-Star Game is played on the weekend, and we come back.”
Messi also missed the 2024 All-Star Game but had been given approval by the MLS due to an injury he was suffering from.
When will Lionel Messi play next for Inter Miami?
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to return for Inter Miami for their first Leagues Cup game against Liga MX team Atlas on Wednesday (July 30).
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hero
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erode
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doudeklmt
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Messi Is Good Player
Jtikol10
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Becasue they will be beaten and no bad news should consider him
TapanAjmeraa
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He was 36 fool and won everything already cry more
nope he wass a 70 year old grandmother
AderioyeAbdfatai
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Pepsi knew he is playing against top rank team so he decided not to play friendly and having a ban smart move leo runaway from top league at 34 messi
mugun 38 nearly 39
Notabckm
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The fact that Inter Miami just come out of Club World Cup and straight up to catching up with league games and now they want them to participate in another competition that does not even make any sense. All of the clubs that participated in club World Cup competitions had a break.
exactly
Deoekmopsu
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scared of Cincinnati FC hahaha
veycmpuy
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Without the GOAT, there is no win.
badabckty
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some people are begging for game time i.e to play every match while some people are running from game time i.e selecting match they want to play. that's the irony of life. pls MLS respect our goat 🐐
no one respect your goat we always cooked and eat in every sunday
badabckty
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its a shamefull match ended 0-0 cincinati goal was disallowed without any reason ...the reason was cincinati will win the match that is the reason its disallowed. ISL is far2 better and competitive thans this burger league or fifa league...
voebeipsuy
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Pepsi knew he is playing against top rank team so he decided not to play friendly and having a ban smart move leo runaway from top league at 34 messi
He was 36 fool and won everything already cry more
wuyclmnpz
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He retire, i think
Diarra17
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The fact that Inter Miami just come out of Club World Cup and straight up to catching up with league games and now they want them to participate in another competition that does not even make any sense. All of the clubs that participated in club World Cup competitions had a break.
Vuuabdempt
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bc messi scared of Cincinnati
Yehdelnsuz
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some people are begging for game time i.e to play every match while some people are running from game time i.e selecting match they want to play. that's the irony of life. pls MLS respect our goat 🐐
Neadenpstu
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Messi says my policy is to never promote this league again, so f. off
Miubcekopt
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Allah will help them to win the matches
DeLigtjr
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there's no way Miami is gonna win without messi so that's gonna be a loss for them
poekmrty
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please stop judging emotionally. The law is the law . The couch should send them and rest them on bench better than snubbing the match. No player is bigger than the club
Cupidonjevenson43
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Messi is bigger then MLS 😎
RiyasRichu
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idiotic league, this league doesn't deserve Messi
TapanAjmeraa
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Pepsi knew he is playing against top rank team so he decided not to play friendly and having a ban smart move leo runaway from top league at 34 messi
Theskyisblue
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nonsensical league govern by idiots this guys are just from club world cup with surplus matches to play in MLS and you went ahead to include them to take part in a nonsense match call all stars⭐ what they get injured this guys are not animals they're humans like other players how I wish Messi can leave the nonsense league next season
veueilnru
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erotic league
nieabdipu
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America is Shit!😅🪨