Lionel Messi, star of Inter Miami, commented on his recent one-game suspension in MLS after he missed the All-Star Game. Inter Miami come off a hard-fought 2-1 win over Atlas in the Leagues Cup, a match that also marked Lionel Messi’s return to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension.

Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were both given one-game suspensions for skipping the All-Star Game, an official MLS rule which has attracted the fury of many in recent days, and he was revealed to be incredibly upset in the immediate aftermath of the ruling.

Lionel Messi’s recent one‑match suspension from MLS made major headlines in the run‑up to the 2025 Leagues Cup. He got banned because he didn’t show up at the MLS All-Star Game on July 23, which is a clear violation of the league’s rules that require players to participate unless they have a formal excuse.