Lionel Messi, the undisputed king of football, has once again made headlines not just for his footballing brilliance, but for a rare moment of sheer passion that shook the MLS world.
The Inter Miami superstar has been fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Soccer after an intense post-match clash with New York City FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy.
The moment of drama unfolded at the final whistle of Saturday’s thrilling 2-2 draw at Chase Stadium. After assisting Telasco Segovia’s last-gasp equalizer, Messi was visibly fired up.
Frustrated by refereeing decisions throughout the match, he confronted referee Alexis Da Silva, earning a yellow card for dissent. But it didn’t stop there.
As tensions boiled over, Messi twice placed his hands on the back of Ballouchy’s neck in the heat of the argument. And just like that, MLS’s disciplinary committee stepped in, citing a violation of their “Hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy.”
But Messi wasn’t the only one showing some South American grit. His longtime partner-in-crime, Luis Suarez, also received a similar fine for putting his hands on the back of NYC FC defender Birk Risa’s neck during a halftime confrontation.
The dynamic duo isn’t just lighting up MLS with their chemistry on the pitch they’re making sure nobody forgets their presence in every way possible.
This fiery incident comes in the same week that a referee in charge of Inter Miami’s Concacaf Champions League clash against Sporting KC was disciplined yes, you read that right by CONCACAF for asking Messi for his jersey after the game.
The man is simply bigger than the sport itself! And let’s not forget, Messi bagged the only goal in that match, a cold-blooded finish in freezing Kansas City conditions, proving once again why he’s the best to ever do it.
Messi’s passion is what makes him Messi. Whether it’s fighting for his team, producing moments of pure magic, or standing up to referees and opponents alike, the World Cup winner never backs down.
Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that when Messi steps onto the pitch, football becomes something otherworldly.
With Inter Miami continuing their pursuit of MLS glory, one thing is clear: Lionel Messi is here to dominate, with or without controversy. And honestly, who doesn’t love a bit of fire from the greatest of all time?
