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<ul><li>MLS sanctions Messi and Alba for skipping ASG</li><li>Duo not available for selection Saturday </li><li>All-Star absences were not approved</li><li><div data-name="Apple TV" class="affiliate-button-container theme-1"><div class="affiliate-button"><img height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;" class="logo">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" target="_blank" class="affiliate-button-link" rel="sponsored">Stream games now</a></div></li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

MLS hands Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba one-game suspensions for skipping league’s All-Star Game, with both unavailable for Inter Miami’s weekend match against FC Cincinnati

Major League Soccer

Inter Miami CF

FC Cincinnati

Major League Soccer confirmed on Friday that both Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba have been suspended one match each for skipping the 2025 MLS All-Star game, and neither will be available when Inter Miami host FC Cincinnati Saturday night.In a statement, the league said the two players were sanctioned "due to their absence at this week’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game. Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match."Earlier Friday, Miami coach Javier Mascherano had said both players would be able to play against Cincinnati, adding that Messi was dealing with fatigue and Alba sustatined a minor injury against the New York Red Bulls last weekend."Look, players always have discomfort, especially when they play every three days,” Mascherano told reporters on Friday. “But luckily, he is returning today. Let's hope he can train alongside the group so we can count on both of them for tomorrow's game. We haven't received any [sanction.]"In 2018, then-LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic was suspended one match for skipping the All-Star Game without approval.Just hours before the ASG on Wednesday, MLS Commissioner Don Garber <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/mls-commissioner-don-garber-lionel-messi-jordi-alba-all-star-game-inter-miami/blte73edf58a24da762" target="_blank">declined to say whether Messi or Alba would be disciplined,</a> but admitted the league should have been more proactive in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/the-rondo-should-anyone-be-surprised-that-leo-messi-is-skipping-mls-all-star-game-what-s-the-impact-for-the-league-and-should-he-be-suspended/bltf5e3de3af751384c">confirming the players' status</a>&nbsp;ahead of its marquee summer event.MLS didn't publicly announce that Messi and Alba would not play in the All-Star game until the roster was confirmed Wednesday morning, and offered no specifics behind the absences.&nbsp;Garber said at the time that MLS and Inter Miami were communicating on the issue, but pointed to Miami's heavy schedule - playing nine matches in just more than a month - spread across the Club World Cup and MLS play.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Neither Messi nor Alba trained until Friday this week, according to Mascherano, who added that "Messi showed normal fatigue from the number of games and minutes he's been playing."The Miami manager said that, while he supports the All-Star Game, it needs to be scheduled in a different window. "What I think is that if they want to do this type of event, it's great to do it, and the truth is that it's great for the league," he said. "There shouldn't be a date in the schedule. It's crazy. We've been playing four of the last five games away. We've been playing four away. We've been playing practically every three days."Mascherano suggested that the annual event be held on the weekend, and that the league should not return to regular-season games so quickly after the contest. The ASG was Wednesday, and the league has games scheduled Friday and Saturday."Stop for the weekend, the All-Star Games is played on the weekend, and we come back," he said. "Because after Wednesday, today, 48 hours after having played, there are teams that are going to play today, and it's not enough rest for the players either. So, the first thing we have to think about is that football belongs to the players. And if football belongs to the players. Without players, it doesn't exist."Inter Miami will be without three key starters on Saturday - Messi, Alba and defender Maxi Falcon, who is suspended for one match due to yellow card accumulation.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Since the start of the season in February, Miami has competed in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, MLS regular season, the FIFA Club World Cup, and has one match left before participation in the 2025 Leagues Cup.Since the start of the season, they have played in 33 matches across all competitions. The Vancouver Whitecaps, 2025 Champions Cup finalists, meanwhile, have played in 34 across all competitions this season.

DID YOU KNOW?

Miami and FCC kick off at 7:15 p.m. ET Saturday in a meeting between two Eastern Conference contenders. FCC sit atop the Supporters' Shield standings, and last week <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/inter-miami-player-ratings-fc-cincinnati-lionel-messi-rodrigo-de-paul-leo-mls/blt5447d54a05b534d0" target="_self">defeated Miami 3-0 at home.</a>

WHAT NEXT?

MLS hands Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba one-game suspensions for skipping league’s All-Star Game, with both unavailable for Inter Miami’s weekend match against FC Cincinnati | Goal.com

Per MLS rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval is ineligible for the next match

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