Messi Told to 'Grow Up' After Skipping MLS All-Star Game

Lionel Messi, a star player for Inter Miami, was banned from a match after failing to participate in the MLS All-Star game, despite knowing the rules and terms of his contract. Former US international and LA Galaxy president Alexi Lalas expressed incredulity at the reaction to Messi's punishment, suggesting that the player had an opportunity to negotiate out of the game when signing his contract. The Inter Miami team had informed MLS that their players would not participate in the game due to a busy schedule, but Messi still faced a one-match ban for missing the event.

Key Takeaways:

• Messi was handed a one-match ban for missing the MLS All-Star game, as per MLS rules that require players to attend without injury.
• The Inter Miami team had informed MLS that their players, including Messi and Jordi Alba, would not participate in the game due to a schedule of nine matches in 36 days.
• Alexi Lalas criticized Messi's decision, stating that he had the opportunity to negotiate out of the game when signing his contract.
• The club's owner, Jorge Mas, made a strong defense of Messi and Alba, calling the punishment "draconian" and suggesting the team made the decision to sit out the game.
• Messi was described as "very upset" and "competitive" by Mas, who stated the player understood the magnitude of the game.
• Messi and Alba will serve a one-match ban for their decision to miss the game.

Statistics:

• 9 matches in 36 days: The schedule that led to the Inter Miami team's decision to sit out the MLS All-Star game.
• 1 match ban: The punishment handed to Messi and Alba for missing the game.
• 55 years old: The age of Alexi Lalas, who made a critical response to the defense of Messi's actions.

Sources:

• "He signed his contract. He knew that playing in the All-Star game was part of his contract. So he knew the rules. So Messi, you need to grow up. You need to participate. And if you didn't want to play in the All-Star game, you had the leverage at the moment you were signing your contract, and you should have negotiated for that." - Alexi Lalas, State of the Union podcast.
• "Lionel Messi is very upset, like we all are in the club, with the fact that they won't be able to play tomorrow night. But I think what we have to do as a club is to get together as one, have an attitude that is us against the world." - Jorge Mas, Inter Miami owner.
• "I think that the punishment for the rule is frankly draconian," - Jorge Mas, Inter Miami owner.