Lionel Messi unquestionably has elevated Major League Soccer and the sport of soccer in the United States with his mere presence. All eyes are on Messi — which is why viral video of him, squeezing the back of an opposing coach’s neck must be appropriately addressed by the league following the opening weekend of the 2025 season.
Messi made aggressive contact with New York City FC assistant Mehdi Ballouchy, causing the coach to clench his shoulders while looking back at the Inter Miami star. Messi also received a yellow card for arguing with a referee after the final whistle in the 2-2 draw on Saturday night. The incident with the assistant could — and should — be reviewed by the MLS disciplinary committee this week.
The sequence between Messi, the reigning league MVP, and Ballouchy, a former 10-year MLS player turned assistant coach from Morocco, was widely viewed on social media after the game. Lead MLS and Apple TV analyst Taylor Twellman wrote Sunday: “Not a great look. Grabbing an assistant coach by the neck. Going after the ref.”
Indeed, it’s not at great look at all by Messi as the league’s 30th season, headlined by his status as the sport’s greatest player, began this weekend.
A spokesman for MLS declined to comment on the incident, as did NYCFC. Representatives for Messi and Inter Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The MLS disciplinary committee routinely reviews every game. The league does not typically comment on incidents under investigation until a final decision, after any appeals, is reached. If an incident does not fall under the parameters for review by the committee, the league office can still issue sanctions. The committee is comprised of a former MLS referee, a former MLS coach and three former MLS players, including one designated by the MLS Players Association.
At the very least, Messi should be fined and forced to issue an apology for his actions. MLS does not need to make an example of him with overpowering discipline, but the league’s players, coaches, personnel and fans will be closely watching to see how Messi’s behavior is handled.
The Argentine World Cup champion’s arrival to MLS in the summer of 2023 has led to worldwide exposure for the league, while his best-selling jerseys have elevated Inter Miami as an international soccer brand. Messi, 37, is under contract with Inter Miami through the 2025 MLS season, and has not yet declared whether he will play in the next World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico in 2026.
“Leo Messi has really been a gamechanger for our league and for our sport, getting us recognition around the world,” MLS commissioner Don Garber told USA TODAY Sports during an interview at the Miami premier of the “Onside: Major League Soccer” documentary last week.
As the Inter Miami match ended, a fuming Messi engaged in a conversation with the lead official — who asked Messi to back away before drawing a yellow card in Messi’s direction.
After Messi walked away from the official, Ballouchy started a conversation with Messi near the sideline. Inter Miami assistant Javier Morales also approached Ballouchy as Messi briefly walked away. Then, Messi turned back toward the assistant and was seen squeezing the back of Ballouchy’s neck.
It’s unclear where Messi’s contact with the assistant coach falls under the MLS rulebook, but the incident is a case the disciplinary committee could review. MLS guidelines state, in a wide-ranging rule, that “major fines and/or suspensions, at the sole and absolute discretion of the league office, shall be levied against players, coaches, or other team officials for conduct detrimental to the league.”
The “Hands to the Face/Head/Neck of an Opponent” rule states “individuals witnessed to have contacted the face, head, and/or neck of an opponent, which incites or escalates an individual incident (as determined by the Disciplinary Committee) will receive a minimum of a fine.” However, the rule is intended for player interactions during games.
Messi had two assists in the draw against New York City — one in the fifth minute to Toto Aviles, and one in the 100th minute to Telasco Segovia to salvage a tie in the club’s home opener. Messi, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez were quite demonstrative, contesting calls with officials during and after the match.
Inter Miami played with just 10 players against NYCFC’s 11 after Aviles was ejected in the 23rd minute, immediately receiving a red card for tackling a player. The Inter Miami legends contested that NYCFC’s Strahinja Tanasijević should have received a second yellow card, and subsequent ejection, just before halftime. Tanasijević received a yellow card for a tackle on Suarez, but did not when he tackled Busquets shortly after.
“We can’t control how the referee may decide to officiate, and I don’t like to give an opinion because one day they favor you, another day they don’t. That’s just the way it is,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the match. “And I don’t believe in bad intentions, far from it. They have the right to make mistakes like we all make mistakes.”
Inter Miami previously was sanctioned by the Concacaf disciplinary committee for an incident involving Messi last April, following after a Champions Cup match against Liga MX side Monterrey at Chase Stadium.
Messi and several other members of Inter Miami reportedly confronted Monterrey coach Fernando Ortiz and referees in the locker room area after a 2-1 loss to Monterrey on April 3, 2024. Monterrey assistant coach Nico Sánchez said Messi “had the face of the devil” and “wanted to fight me” in an audio clip he says was shared with close friends before it was leaked publicly, leading to a video apology.
Inter Miami returns to action Tuesday at home against Sporting Kansas City in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup first-round matchup. Inter Miami leads the series 1-0 on aggregate score behind Messi’s goal, during a game that was postponed a day by weather and played last Wednesday in subfreezing temperatures in Kansas City, Kansas.
Inter Miami’s second MLS game of the season will be on the road against the Houston Dynamo on March 2 during the second edition of the league’s ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ showcase.
While Messi’s contentious moments with opponents and officials highlight his competitive nature adored by fans around the world, this incident with the assistant coach paints Messi in a negative light far from the way he’ll be remembered as his career winds to an end in the United States.
Messi might be the biggest star to ever play in MLS, but that’s exactly why the league should discipline him like they would any other player.