Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will not play for Inter Miami Saturday night when they host FC Cincinnati. The two have been suspended β “unavailable,” as MLS put it β after they missed the 2025 MLS All-Star Game this week.
“Inter Miami CFβs Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi will be unavailable for the clubβs match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26, due to their absence at this weekβs Major League Soccer All-Star Game,” said MLS in a 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 clubβs next match.
Both Messi and Alba were voted into the All-Star Game but did not take part in any events earlier this week in Austin, Texas. According to ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano, league officials and Inter Miami representatives held talks about whether both players would be available for the Cincinnati game.
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The league has enforced this policy before after former LA Galaxy star Zlatan IbrahimoviΔ was suspended one game when he missed the 2018 All-Star Game against Serie A side Juventus.
βI know Lionel Messi loves this league. I donβt think thereβs a player β or anyone β who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber told the Miami Herald. “I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision.
βUnfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision. That said, weβre going to take a hard look at the policy moving forward. Iβm committed to working with our players to determine how the rule should evolve.β
On Friday, head coach Javier Mascherano noted Inter Miami’s busy schedule of late and why Messi and Alba needed the time away.
“What I think is that if they want to do this type of event, it’s great to do it, and the truth is that it’s great for the league,” Mascherano said. “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 because after Wednesday, today, 48 hours after having played, there are teams that are going to play today, and it’s not enough rest for the players either. So, the first thing we have to think about is that football belongs to the players. And if football belongs to the players, without players, it doesn’t exist.”
Messi missed last year’s All-Star Game after he suffered an ankle injury representing Argentina at Copa AmΓ©rica. Speculation grew that the two Inter Miami stars would not play in this year’s event when they both missed Monday’s training session.
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Following an injury-filled 2024 season, the 38-year-old Messi has played every minute of Inter Miami’s last 19 games. The Herons are 12-4-5 and sit fifth in the Eastern Conference through 21 games.
Both players were in the Inter Miami lineup during Saturday’s 5-1 win over New York Red Bulls. Alba, who was subbed out in the second half with an injury, scored the team’s first goal and Messi added two in the second half.
Messi and Alba will be eligible to return on Wednesday when Inter Miami begins Phase One of Leagues Cup play against Liga MX side Atlas F.C.
