Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano criticized Major League Soccer's decision to suspend Lionel Messi for skipping the All-Star Game.

Inter Miami will have a week off until their next MLS game, which is on July 26 at Chase Stadium. The Herons are still in the battle for the top positions in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters Shield table.

Inter Miami will be without Lionel Messi against FC Cincinnati as the two Eastern Conference rivals go head-to-head.

Javier Mascherano has rubbished rumours that the Argentina squad had moved to depose coach Jorge Sampaoli from his position ahead of a crucial World Cup match.

The MLS All-Star Game is set for Wednesday, July 23, but Javier Mascherano doesn’t want Lionel Messi involved in the match against Liga MX stars. In a team full of veterans, Inter Miami can’t afford to have players involved in extracurricular matters at this point of the season.

Javier Mascherano, who was Messi's teammate with Barcelona and Argentina's national team, was hired after a brisk search that only took a few days to complete.

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano watches forwards Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez during a soccer practice session, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Credit: AP/Marta Lavandier

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The first few minutes of Javier Mascherano's introductory news conference as Inter Miami coach on Tuesday were rough. He was coughing, struggling to get words out ...

Mascherano also strongly believes the suspension wouldn't have happened if Inter Miami played on the road instead of at home. "I don’t like to speak about other people’s decis