Inter Miami supervisor Javier Mascherano has claimed the MLS would have allowed Lionel Messi to skip the All-Star Game if Inter Miami had been on the highway this weekend.
Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who’s by far the league’s most high-profile participant and attracts large crowds to Miami video games, was banned alongside team-mate and fellow Barcelona icon Jordi Alba for his or her 0-0 residence draw in opposition to second-placed Cincinnati on Saturday.
“What if the sport had been away?” Mascherano requested, having operated with out his prime scorer as a result of the Miami captain missed the All-Star Game in Austin with out permission from the MLS.
“They would even have requested for Leo to not play as a result of with regards to filling stadiums and getting cash there, no-one complains. The factor is that this recreation was at residence. That’s the issue.”
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Lionel Messi ban: Inter Miami ‘adapt’
Messi was mentioned to have been “very, very indignant” and “extraordinarily upset” to have obtained the one-match ban alongside Alba for lacking the match, which required a mid-season spherical journey of greater than 2,200 miles.
“Unfortunately, we now have a long-standing coverage relating to participation within the All-Star Game, and we needed to implement it,” mentioned MLS commissioner Don Garber on Friday, through the Miami Herald.
“It was a really tough resolution. That mentioned, we’re going to take a tough take a look at the coverage shifting ahead.”
Mascherano mentioned he “didn’t come right here to criticize the MLS or change the foundations”. “Even although I don’t agree with the choice – I don’t agree with it in any respect – we tailored and the workforce performed an ideal recreation,” he added, reflecting on the end result in opposition to opponents who gained 3-0 at residence to Miami on July 17.
“What I do discover unusual is that one factor is alleged in the future [sympathizing with player schedules] and the following a very completely different resolution is made.
“We all heard what was mentioned – that it was comprehensible, given the variety of video games he had been enjoying.”
Lionel Messi accidents: ‘I don’t lie’, says Mascherano
Messi and Alba have been banned as a result of they didn’t have accidents ruling them out of the All-Star Game, though Mascherano had mentioned that the 38-year-old was struggling “discomfort”, whereas the wideman was carrying a knock.
“I don’t lie,” mentioned Mascherano, accusing a reporter of suggesting that the scenario had mirrored poorly on him.
“What I defined is that Leo didn’t practice with the group. He had skilled individually, like Jordi. Now, whether or not you wish to consider me or not is your downside.
“It doesn’t depart me in a nasty mild in any respect as a result of since I’m telling the reality, the issue is on the opposite facet.”
Inter Miami penalties
Mascherano questioned why Miami are but to be awarded a penalty in 2025 whereas each different MLS membership has obtained at the least two.
“The solely factor is {that a} workforce with as many targets as us within the MLS – and I believe we’re those who generate essentially the most probabilities, if not within the prime 5, proper? – in 22 matchdays, we’ve had zero penalties,” he mentioned.
“Weird, huh? I’ll depart it to you to consider.
“You need to deal with what you possibly can management and what I can management is getting essentially the most out of the gamers I’ve accessible.
“We tailored to [losing Messi and Alba]. We clearly deserved to win, so let’s look ahead and hold going.”
Rodrigo De Paul signing ‘historic’
Miami had 13 of the 21 makes an attempt between the groups at Chase Stadium and stored 15-goal Cincy prime scorer Evander from netting.
“We should have had 5 or 6 excellent clear probabilities and their goalkeeper [Roman Celentano] was excellent,” noticed Mascherano, who noticed Uruguay all-time prime scorer Luis Suarez failed to attain for a sixth successive MLS recreation.
“The result’s unhealthy as a result of we deserved to win.”
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who has performed 62 video games for Argentina alongside Messi and joined Miami initially on mortgage from Atletico Madrid this week, was launched to the group earlier than the sport.
“Rodrigo’s signing is clearly a historic signing, for a world champion to come back at his age – 31 – in his prime,” mentioned Mascherano.
“It speaks to this membership’s ambition to proceed rising, to proceed enhancing the worth of this league, though it typically receives mistreatment or disrespect.
“The membership retains investing, retains attempting so as to add worth to the workforce and, above all, to the league. I hope he helps us as we expect he’ll.”
Lionel Messi banned vs Cincinnati
Messi has performed each minute in 22 of Miami’s final 23 video games in all competitions, scoring at the least two targets in six of their final seven MLS video games, together with a run of 5 straight.
Messi and Alba returned to coaching on Friday and have been anticipated to be in Miami’s beginning facet in opposition to Cincinnati, who’re seven factors forward of them and one behind Philadelphia.
Miami have three matches in hand due to their involvement within the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup in June.
Last season’s Supporters’ Shield winners performed 5 matches in 14 days from July 5, together with that defeat at Cincinnati on July 16 — the one recreation alongside the best way by which Messi didn’t rating.
Lionel Messi stats
Messi is the reigning MLS MVP, with no participant within the league outscoring his 18 targets.
He recovered from the defeat to Cincinnati by scoring twice and establishing one other purpose of their 5-1 win at New York Red Bulls on July 19.
Miami are fifth within the Eastern Conference.
Lionel Messi contract, wage
Messi stays essentially the most high-profile participant on the planet alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and has an optionally available further 12 months in his Miami contract.
Speaking to Marca after Messi’s arrival was first introduced in July 2023, co-owner Jorge Mas mentioned the four-time Champions League winner would earn as much as $60 million a 12 months.
Messi’s purported enjoying wage of as much as $20.4m is significantly greater than another participant within the US and is heftily elevated by holding fairness within the membership and funds from league broadcasters Apple.
The sporting nice has spoken of his happiness at Miami and hinted that he’ll signal a contract extension.
Lionel Messi Inter Miami report
The membership was fashioned by a bunch together with former England captain David Beckham in 2018 and made Messi one of the crucial prestigious MLS signings of all time 5 years later, successful their first trophy with the assistance of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Uruguay all-time prime scorer Luis Suarez once they triumphed within the 2023 Leagues Cup.
In his first full marketing campaign with the membership, Messi averaged an MLS-record 2.18 purpose contributions per 90 minutes in 2024 to assist Miami win their first Supporters’ Shield.
He has 24 targets and eight assists in 29 appearances in all competitions in 2025, with former Argentina midfielder Mascherano taking on as boss earlier than the beginning of the season.
