Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will be available for Inter Miami when they host FC Cincinnati on Saturday as head coach Javier Mascherano confirmed the two will not be suspended for missing this week’s MLS All-Star Game.
MLS rules state that if a player pulls out of the All-Star Game without an approved medical reason they are subject to a one-game suspension. According to ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano, league officials and Inter Miami representatives held talks this week about whether both players would be available for the Cincinnati game.
“Well, Messi showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he’s been playing,” Mascherano said, via ESPN. “Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days. But luckily, he is returning today. Let’s hope he can train alongside the group so we can count on both of them for tomorrow’s game. We haven’t received any [sanction.]”
The league has enforced this policy before after former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimović was suspended one game when he missed the 2018 All-Star Game against Serie A side Juventus.
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A team of MLS All-Stars beat a team of All-Stars from Mexico’s Liga MX 3-1 in in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday night. When the league revealed the final roster for the game, Messi and Alba were not included.
On Friday, 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 Gam 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 América. 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.
It remains to be how involved Messi and Alba will be involved against Cincinnati. Both trained on Friday morning and the team will then have three days off before beginning Phase One of Leagues Cup play on Wednesday against Liga MX side Atlas F.C.
