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 blamed his physical dip against Atlas in the Leagues Cup on an MLS suspension. “I need to compete,” he said. The Argentine was banned from the last league match for missing the All-Star Game.