The reason why Lionel Messi and Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba have been suspended for their club’s next MLS fixture has been revealed. The pair will be suspended for their next game against FC Cincinnati on Saturday after missing Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game against Mexico’s Liga MX without approval from the league.

Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Más said on Friday that the club disagrees with the decision by MLS to suspend Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for one game after they both missed the 2025 MLS All-Star Game. “There’s a rule in place, but it’s a bad rule," Más told reporters, via Franco Panizo.

Inter Miami will host FC Cincinnati in a matchup of two of the top five teams in the Eastern Conference on Saturday night in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. FC Cincinnati (15-6-3, 48 points) blanked Inter Miami 3-0 on July 16 and surged to the top spot in the conference following a 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake last Saturday.