Messi, Alba Suspended by MLS for Skipping All-Star Game/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba have been suspended one match by MLS after missing the All-Star Game without league approval. Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas criticized the decision as “draconian,” saying both players had valid reasons to skip the exhibition match. MLS says it will re-evaluate the rule in future seasons.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas condemned Major League Soccer’s decision to suspend Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for missing the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, calling the punishment “draconian” and out of touch with the realities of modern football schedules.
Messi and Alba were handed automatic one-game suspensions for failing to appear in the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star showdown without prior league approval. The penalty comes under an MLS rule that prohibits players from participating in their club’s next match if they opt out of the All-Star Game.
Mas expressed dismay over the situation Friday, stating that neither Messi nor Alba intended disrespect and that the club had made the decision in their best interest.
The absence of Messi and Alba was not a surprise to Inter Miami insiders. Messi, amid a heavy slate of club and international matches, opted for rest. Jordi Alba, recovering from a prior injury, was not match fit. The club coordinated their non-participation based on these physical and logistical factors.
Despite that, MLS enforced the letter of its All-Star attendance ruleleading to their ineligibility for Miami’s crucial home game against FC Cincinnatithe Eastern Conference leaders. Both players had practiced with the team Friday, expecting to play.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the significance of Messi’s contributions to the league and the sport in America but stood by the enforcement of the policy.
Garber added that the league is now open to revisiting and revising the All-Star attendance policystating that it must evolve with the needs of players, clubs, and fans.
The controversy has shed light on MLS’s approach to scheduling and player welfare:
The suspension has reignited discussion about MLS’s treatment of marquee players, particularly global icons like Messi, whose participation drives attendance, TV ratings, and sponsorship revenue.
As the league expands its international presence, rigid enforcement of rules without nuance could alienate top talent. With Messi’s influence extending beyond the pitch, league officials may now feel pressure to modernize outdated policies that don’t reflect the realities of elite soccer workloads.
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