Bizarre reason Lionel Messi will miss Inter Miami’s MLS clash against Houston Dynamo

Lionel Messi fans in Houston will be left bitterly disappointed ahead of their team’s MLS clash against Inter Miami on Sunday night. 

The 2025 MLS season is only in its second week, yet the league’s main attraction, Messi, is already missing in action. 

The Argentina star did not travel with his Inter Miami teammates to Texas where they will face the Houston Dynamo this weekend. 

The World Cup winner is set to miss the league clash due to head coach Javier Mascherano’s decision to rest his biggest attacking asset, according to the Miami Herald.

While the 37-year-old is not injured, Mascherano has reportedly opted to rest the star amid the team’s congested schedule. 

The Dynamo responded in a statement Saturday offering outraged fans a complimentary ticket to another MLS game in the season.  

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano reportedly took the decision to rest the star 

Messi is expected to make his return to the field Thursday when the Herons face Jamaican team Cavalier SC in Round of 16 Concacaf Champions Cup at Chase Stadium. 

Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets were substituted late into Miami’s 3-1 Champions Cup win over Sporting KC midweek with Mascherano later revealing the changes had been intentional to ensure those players received rest. 

‘Leo is fine. He is OK. He will train normally like the rest of his teammates,’ Maschernao said Friday morning when asked about Messi’s fitness. 

The coach was quizzed on the veteran’s ability to continue playing at the level fans have become accustomed to seeing from him in a season that includes the Champions Cup, MLS season, Club World Cup and Leagues Cup.

‘Look, every situation and season is different and you have to put everything in context,’ Mascherano said. ‘We played in a knockout round [last week]. There was no way to rotate the roster. We started the season in Kansas, where the Champions League is an important competition for us. 

‘In between those two games we had the start of the MLS season. That is also one of the competitions we aim to win. So, when we talk about being able to rotate and rest the players, we must see the context. We had to play three games in [seven] days. 

‘We didn’t have the necessary rest, because we were changed on the first match date. It is what it is, we adapt to the circumstances.’

Inter Miami, the reigning winner of the Supporters’ Shield, is looking to seal its first win of the season against the Dynamo after opening its campaign with a 2-2 tie against New York City FC on opening weekend.

Messi was slapped with a fine from MLS earlier this week after he grabbed a New York City FC coach by the neck during last week’s game. 

The Dynamo responded in a statement Saturday offering outraged fans a complimentary ticket

Messi grabbed the neck of NYCFC assistant Mehdi Ballouchy after the teams’ 2-2 draw

An enraged Messi could be seen approaching NYCFC assistant Mehdi Ballouchy and grabbing the back of his neck, causing him to pull away from the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

MLS also fined Luis Suarez for violating the same ‘face/head/neck of an opponent policy’ during halftime, when he pinched the back of Norwegian defender Birk Risa’s neck. The precise amount each player was fined is unclear.

Messi had salvaged a point for Miami in their MLS opener, after weaving through New York City FC’s defense to set up Telasco Segovia for a last-gasp goal.

But the Argentine star then suffered a dramatic meltdown following the final whistle. Messi first confronted the referee, angrily pointing at Rosendo Mendoza and berating the official.

The referee instructed Messi to walk away, only for the 37-year-old to continue his complaints. That earned him a yellow card.

As Messi then made his way off the field, NYCFC’s Ballouchy appeared to say something to the Inter Miami captain, sparking to a fiery exchange between the pair.

Two Miami assistants stepped in to diffuse the situation, and it appeared Messi was ready to walk away.

But the 37-year-old then returned and put his hand on Ballouchy’s neck – much to the coach’s shock.