Lionel Messi hit with Inter Miami ban as strange MLS rule sanctioned

Lionel Messihas been slapped with a suspension from MLSand will miss Inter Miami's encounter with Cincinnati this weekend. The World Cup champion has received his punishment for skipping the MLS All-Star Game.

The Argentine avoided the exhibition fixture and, initially, no explanation was provided for the league's marquee player failing to participate. Subsequently, Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano stated he was experiencing tiredness.

MLS regulations dictate that anyone who avoids the All-Star Game without an injury must accept a one-match suspension.

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Mascherano, when discussing the circumstances surrounding Messi, said: "He showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he's been playing. Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days."

Messi's colleague Jordi Alba, who was alongside him at Barcelona during Pep Guardiola's tenure, is facing the identical suspension after also sidestepping the match. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is among the others that have been previously banned for avoiding the All-Star Game, having missed the fixture in 2018.

Miami contested nine fixtures in a 35-day period between the FIFA Club World Cup and MLS regular season - throughout that stretch Messi featured for every minute.

MLS commissioner Don Garber remarked earlier this week: "We do have rules, and we have to manage through that as well. We would have loved to have Leo here. We'd love to have every player that was selected for the All-Star team here. After this All-Star Game, we'll figure out what needs to happen.

"I was told this morning that neither Jordi nor Messi practiced today (Wednesday). Jordi came off with an injury in last game, and we'll have to manage through what Miami is going to say about that."

Despite the absence of both Messi and Alba, the MLS side managed to claim a convincing 3-1 victory over Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars in Austin, Texas.

The 38-year-old Argentine maestro, who has claimed the Ballon d'Or on eight occasions, has found the net 18 times in an equal number of outings for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

Following his switch to Florida, Messi has guided his side, part-owned by David Beckham, to Leagues Cup glory in 2023 before they claimed the Supporters' Shield the subsequent campaign.

Inter Miami presently occupy seventh position in the overall MLS standings whilst sitting fifth within their Conference.