Lionel Messi: Inter Miami star and team-mate Jordi Alba banned after missing MLS All-Star game

Lionel Messi is “extremely upset” after he and his Inter Miami team-mate Jordi Alba were given one-match bans for skipping Major League Soccer’s All-Star game earlier this week.

Both players missed Wednesday’s match in Austin, Texas where the MLS squad posted a 3-1 win against Mexico’s Liga MX All-Stars.

“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,” MLS said in a statement on Friday.

As a result, the duo will now miss Miami’s home league fixture against FC Cincinnati on Saturday.

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said of Messi’s response to the ban: “He’s very upset, extremely upset, as expected.

“I’m hopeful it doesn’t have an impact long-term. Will it have an impact initially, in the players’ perception of how the league rules work? Absolutely no doubt.”

Mas said of Alba and Messi: “The reaction was exactly as expected out of two competitive players who don’t understand the decision, who don’t understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension.

“The rule is what it is, but they don’t understand it. I think that the punishment for the rule is frankly draconian.”

MLS commissioner Don Garber said suspending Messi was a “very difficult decision”.