Lionel Messi, a forward for Inter Miami, was fined an undisclosed sum for grabbing a member of the coaching staff of New York City FC by the neck during the MLS season opening. After a tense 2-2 tie in Miami, the coach naturally backed away from the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner during the altercation.

By imposing the penalties on Tuesday, the MLS Disciplinary Committee reaffirmed its position on player behavior. Messi's teammate Luis Suárez also received a similar punishment for violating the league's "face/head/neck of an opponent policy." Suárez pinched Norwegian defender Birk Risa on the back of the neck after halftime, which led to additional disciplinary action.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano attempted to downplay the incident by blaming the media for creating a “circus.” 

“I don’t have too many things to say,” Mascherano said. “It’s difficult when you’re on the pitch and sometimes you think things aren’t in the right way because you can see some mistakes from the referee. But in the end in football, to understand the players and the emotions of the player you have to be inside the pitch. … It’s difficult sometimes to control the emotions. 

“I think the press sometimes wants to whip up a circus about it. That happens in every game that you can discuss with the referee, with some opposite players. It’s important – what we say in Argentina – we say, the things that happen [on] the pitch stay [on] the pitch.”

After defeating Sporting Kansas City 3-1, Inter Miami secured its spot in the second round of the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup. In addition to securing their advancement, the win demonstrated the team's depth of attack and precision finishing.

With a superb finish in the 19th minute, Lionel Messi broke the scoreless draw. Before halftime, goals from Tadeo Allende and Luis Suárez gave Miami complete control of the game. Memo Rodriguez, an MLS veteran, pulled one back in the 63rd minute as Sporting Kansas City tried to make a comeback, but it wasn't enough to change the result. Miami advanced confidently with a commanding 4-1 overall score.

Next up for Inter Miami is a matchup with Cavalier FC, the 2024 CONCACAF Caribbean Cup champions. The first leg of the match will be held at Chase Stadium on March 6 and the second leg will be held at Stadium East Field in Kingston, Jamaica on March 13.

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