Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has been fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Soccer following a mass brawl during a match against the Philadelphia Union.
The league made the announcement on Friday, confirming Messi had made contact with the face or neck area of an opposing player during the heated encounter on Wednesday.
The match, which ended in a 2-2 draw, descended into chaos during 12th minute of second-half stoppage time as players from both sides clashed on the pitch.
Messi struck Philadelphia’s Quinn Sullivan in the back of the head, sparking a confrontation that saw the two players go forehead-to-forehead in a tense standoff.
Inter Miami teammate Ian Fray was also handed a fine by the league for the same type of conduct during the same brawl-filled sequence of events.
The trouble appeared to begin when Quinn Sullivan went down after a chippy collision in the box, with Fray seemingly grabbing at his head as he stepped over him.
MLS also announced that Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan, who received a red card during the climactic fight, has had the card rescinded following a review.
Despite the chaos surrounding him, Messi did manage to score his first goal since the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, helping Miami salvage the 2-2 draw.
It is not the first time Messi has faced league punishment for physical conduct, having previously been fined in February 2025 for placing his hands on the neck of New York City FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy.
On that same February 2025 occasion, longtime Messi teammate Luis Suárez was also fined for putting his hands to the neck of then-NYCFC defender Birk Risa.
The punishment comes just hours after FIFA sanctioned the Argentina men’s national team for actions at the World Cup, with combined fines totalling $321,000 for various violations including discrimination and racist abuse by supporters.
Per MLS competition guidelines, any individual who contacts the face, head, or neck of an opponent in a manner that incites or escalates an incident or results in mass confrontation “will receive a minimum of a fine.”
