Overview

• Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba are serving one-match suspensions after skipping the MLS All-Star Game without league approval due to fatigue from the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup schedule.
• The pair will be unavailable for Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match against Atlas on July 30 as they complete their suspensions.
• Manager Javier Mascherano and co-owner Jorge Mas publicly condemned the enforcement as inconsistent and “draconian,” arguing it clashes with player welfare and commercial interests.
• Commissioner Don Garber called the decision “very, very difficult” and urged understanding of the league’s longstanding All-Star requirement.
• Inter Miami is negotiating a loan deal for Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid to bolster its roster during the absence of their star players.