Alba and Messi were punished for missing the MLS All-Star Game

Major League Soccer (MLS) has suspended Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for one game each for their unjustified absences from the All-Star Game. As a result, they will not play for Inter Miami against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26, 2025.

Citing regulations that prohibit players from participating in their club’s next game if they miss the All-Star Game without permission, the league declared on Friday that Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba would not be available for their team’s match against FC Cincinnati because they were absent from this week’s MLS All-Star Game.

Hours before the game, the two were surprisingly dropped off the All-Star roster. They were scheduled to play for MLS on Wednesday against a Liga MX team in Austin, Texas.

At a news conference, Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano clarified that both players missed all of the week’s group training because they were too tired.

Messi and Jordi were supposed to start the group exercise today, according to the plan. Mascherano stated that Messi had “normal fatigue due to the number of games and minutes he’s been playing,” and that the team hadn’t practiced with them all week.

Mascherano urged the MLS to postpone domestic games for next All-Star Games and criticized the league’s scheduling.

“A league matchday shouldn’t be held if they wish to host these kinds of events. With our current timetable, it is impossible to hold it during the week; it is absurd,” he said.