Messi and his teammates were involved in a heated brawl with their opponents
Lionel Messi found himself at the centre of a heated moment following Inter Miami’s last-gasp 2-1 victory over Atlas FC in the Leagues Cup on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
The Argentine superstar returned to the starting lineup after missing the weekend’s goalless draw against FC Cincinnati, a punishment handed down after he skipped the MLS All-Star game.
League rules mandate a one-match suspension for players who fail to show up for the All-Star event without a valid medical excuse.
Eager to make up for lost time, Messi was instrumental in Inter Miami’s performance.
He set up Telasco Segovia’s opener in the 57th minute before Atlas leveled through Rivaldo Lozano with just 10 minutes to go.
But Messi wasn’t done yet. Deep into stoppage time, he delivered another assist, this time for Marcelo Weigandt, to clinch all three points for the Herons.
However, the real drama unfolded after the final whistle.
As players from both sides exchanged words, Messi approached Atlas midfielder Gustavo Ferrareis during what appeared to be a tense exchange and briefly grabbed him by the neck.
The confrontation didn’t escalate further, as teammates from both camps quickly stepped in to calm the situation.
The incident has since stirred debates online, with fans split over Messi’s reaction in the heat of the moment.
Watch the video below:
FKA/AE
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