Despite returning to the pitch with a thrilling win, Lionel Messi is still struggling to accept the recent suspension imposed on him.
It’s been a few days since the ban, and Messi has already made his comeback. But the fire of frustration still burns within him. The Inter Miami captain made it clear after a dramatic Leagues Cup victory that he hasn’t fully come to terms with the punishment.
Messi and his teammate Jordi Alba were both handed a one-match suspension for skipping the MLS All-Star Game. According to long-standing MLS rules, players cannot withdraw from the All-Star match without prior approval from the league, unless due to injury. As a result, both stars missed Miami’s match against FC Cincinnati last Wednesday — a game that ended in a draw.
Following the suspension, Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas revealed that Messi was extremely upset. He said neither Messi nor Alba could understand why they were being penalized in a competitive match for not playing in an exhibition one.
On Thursday morning (Bangladesh time), both players returned to action in a Leagues Cup match. Miami secured a dramatic 2-1 win over Mexican side Atlas FC, with both goals coming from Messi’s assists — even though he didn’t score himself.
After the match, Messi admitted that missing the previous game made it difficult for him to find his rhythm, especially in the first half.
“The truth is, in this heat, it was tough for me — especially since I didn’t play in the last match. While rest might seem like a good thing, it’s actually the worst for me because I need to compete. The more matches I play, the better I feel and the more in rhythm I am.”
“They didn’t let me play that day and I felt the impact of that in the first half today. But the most important thing is that we won in the end.”
This win marked a positive start for Inter Miami in the new edition of the Leagues Cup. Though the tournament began in 2019, it was restructured and expanded in 2023, when Miami went on to win it. This year, the format has changed again, featuring 36 teams — 18 from Mexico’s Liga MX and 18 top clubs from Major League Soccer.
Praising the tournament, Messi believes the victory is an important step forward.
“This is a great tournament for us — one where we always compete hard. Facing Mexican teams is a tough challenge. The format has changed, so we can enjoy it more and just play. It’s a fantastic competition and this win is very important.”
