MLS fines Lionel Messi for incident with rival

Major League Soccer (MLS) has issued an undisclosed fine to Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi for an altercation during the team's recent match against the Philadelphia Union. The disciplinary committee cited a violation of the league's policy regarding contact with an opponent's face, head, or neck.

The incident occurred in the 90th minute plus added time of the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw. While play was ongoing elsewhere on the field, Messi approached an opponent, Quinn Sullivan, near the center circle. After a brief exchange of words, Messi lightly struck Sullivan on the head with his left hand. Sullivan reacted by confronting Messi, leading to a brief face-to-face encounter. The referee, who was not initially in a position to see the contact, quickly intervened to separate the players without issuing immediate cards.

Notably, during the same stoppage, the referee did send off two other players: Cavan Sullivan, Quinn's younger brother and teammate, and Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, following a scuffle in the penalty area.

Despite this financial penalty, Messi remains eligible to play in Inter Miami's upcoming match against Toronto. This is not the first time Messi has faced disciplinary action in the MLS; he was previously fined in February 2025 for grabbing an assistant coach by the neck during a game against New York City FC.

The MLS disciplinary decision came shortly after FIFA announced significant sanctions against three of Messi's Argentina national teammates for incidents following the World Cup final loss to Spain. The most severe punishment was a 10-match suspension and a $90,000 fine for midfielder Leandro Paredes.