Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas revealed how Lionel Messi responded to the suspension handed down by Major League Soccer.
Lionel Messi is no stranger to the spotlight. However, this time he finds himself at the center of attention for an unusual reason: controversy—not his on-field performance. Major League Soccer announced the suspension of the Argentine forward and Jordi Alba for skipping the All-Star Game, and Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas addressed the situation.
“Lionel is very upset like everyone at the club because they won’t be able to play tomorrow,” Mas said during a press conference Friday afternoon in Miami. “What we have to do as a club is come together as one and face what’s coming, starting with tomorrow’s game and next week’s Leagues Cup.”
Mas went on to emphasize Messi’s reaction once more. “Messi is upset about today’s decision,” he said, while also speculating: “Will it have an impact on (Messi’s) perception on the league and its rules? No doubt.” Still, Jorge tried to remain optimistic. “I hope it doesn’t have a long-term impact,” he added.
The timing of MLS’s decision is critical in the broader context of the 38-year-old superstar’s future. Messi’s contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of the current season in December, and there’s still no official word on an extension. While Mas has publicly expressed confidence that both sides will reach an agreement, time is ticking and nothing has been finalized.
How did Messi learn about the MLS suspension?
During the same press conference, Jorge Mas explained how Messi was informed of the news. “We were informed a few hours ago… We found out about the suspension while the club was training, and I decided to come speak on behalf of the club to avoid any missteps in defending Jordi and Messi,” said the owner.
“He was told after training,” Mas explained about Messi. “The reaction was as expected, it wasn’t a positive reaction—they want to compete, they want to play games, especially tomorrow’s,” he added, referring to the match Messi and Alba will miss against FC Cincinnati on Saturday night at Chase Stadium.
What will Inter Miami do without Messi and Alba?
Saturday’s match is a crucial one for Inter Miami, as they face the leaders of the Eastern Conference. Cincinnati hold a 7-point lead in the standings and is the only team to beat the Herons in their last seven matches. During that stretch, the Herons have won six games and only lost once—3-0 in Ohio last week. That makes the suspensions of Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba a major problem for head coach Javier Mascherano, who will now be without arguably his two best players.
When Alba has been unavailable, the usual replacement at left-back has been Noah Allen. However, the 21-year-old defender has been sidelined for nearly a month with a muscle injury he suffered in late June against Paris Saint-Germain in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Given that situation, one possible solution is to shift right-footed defenders Gonzalo Lujan or Marcelo Weigandt to the opposite side.
To replace Messi, Mascherano will have to decide whether to bring in another forward—possibly Fafa Picault—and stick with the same tactical shape, or to add another midfielder, likely Benjamin Cremaschi. In that case, playing with three central players instead of two could give wide midfielders Telasco Segovia and Tadeo Allende more freedom to contribute in attack.
From: bolavip.com