In the celebrations surrounding Inter Miami’s Campeones Cup triumph, Lionel Messi created a different kind of headline away from the trophy. The Argentine captain was filmed exchanging terse words with MLS commissioner Don Garber after Miami’s 2-0 win over Cruz Azul, a night in which Messi reached another club milestone and collected the match MVP award.
Messi tells Garber to keep his distance after Campeones Cup win
SEO Title: Messi’s tense exchange with Don Garber after Inter Miami’s Campeones Cup victory
SEO Description: Lionel Messi scored, assisted and won MVP as Inter Miami beat Cruz Azul 2-0 in the Campeones Cup, before a filmed exchange with MLS commissioner Don Garber.
The moment came as Inter Miami’s players moved toward the group photograph with the silverware. Garber approached Messi during the post-match festivities, but the forward appeared visibly serious and was heard saying: “Not with me.”
- Messi helped Inter Miami defeat Cruz Azul 2-0 in the Campeones Cup.
- He opened the scoring with a header, taking his Inter Miami total to 100 goals.
- The No. 10 then supplied the assist for Casemiro’s second goal and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
- As Miami prepared for the trophy photograph, Garber attempted to speak with Messi.
- Messi responded sharply, while the commissioner maintained a smile during the brief exchange.
- The pair crossed paths once more after the photograph before Messi went to join Antonela Roccuzzo.
Earlier All-Star dispute remains part of the background
The incident has renewed focus on Messi’s relationship with the league’s leadership, particularly after an episode in 2025 involving the MLS All-Star Game.
Messi elected not to play in that fixture following a demanding sequence of nine matches in 30 days, choosing instead to manage his fitness. Under MLS competition regulations, a player who misses the All-Star Game without prior approval cannot take part in his club’s following match.
That rule led to a one-game suspension for Messi. At the time, Garber acknowledged that enforcing the policy was difficult, but said MLS had an established requirement regarding All-Star participation and had to apply it.
For Inter Miami, the immediate story remained a cup-winning night: a 100th Miami goal for their captain, an assist for Casemiro, and a 2-0 result over Mexican opposition. Yet the images from the celebration ensured that the final conversation of the evening belonged to Messi and the commissioner.
