'Neck grab' fine and referee 'banned' - Lionel Messi's eventful start to new Inter Miami season

Lionel Messi started the 2025 MLS season with two assists in his first game for Inter Miami and two goals in his first two CONCACAF Champions Cup matches. However, he has also been fined for grabbing the neck of New York City FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy and was at the centre of an incident that led to referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava being disciplined by CONCACAF.

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Lionel Messi's start to the season with Inter Miami has not passed without incident.

Messi was back in action as the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign kicked off last weekend, assisting twice in a 2-2 draw with New York City FC.

He also played in blisteringly cold conditions as Inter Miami began their CONCACAF Champions Cup campaign with victory against Sporting Kansas City.

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Messi scored a brilliant goal in the win over Sporting KC - but it's two other moments involving the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner that have been making headlines.

Messi fined for ‘neck grab’

Inter Miami kicked off their MLS season with a 2-2 draw against New York City FC on February 22.

Miami had played most of the match with 10 men following an early red card to Tomas Aviles and needed an injury-time goal, assisted by Messi, to salvage a point.

Messi looked unhappy after the full-time whistle and was seen exchanging words with referee Alexis Da Silva.

Messi was asked several times to walk away by Da Silva but didn’t and was eventually shown a yellow card.

As Messi then left the pitch, he stopped and spoke to New York assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy.

Messi started to walk away from the conversation but then turned and put his hand on the back of Ballouchy’s neck, and squeezed hard enough for the coach to look surprised.

Ballouchy did not otherwise react - and indeed did not move from his spot - but watched as Messi walked off the pitch.

An MLS statement about the incident said: "The MLS Disciplinary Committee has fined Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi an undisclosed amount for violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy following the conclusion of Inter Miami’s match against New York City FC on February 22."

Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano downplayed Messi's reaction, saying: "It’s difficult when you’re on the pitch and sometimes you think things are not going the right way because you can see some mistakes from the referee.

"In football, to understand the players and the emotions of the players, you have to be inside of the pitch. It’s difficult to counter those emotions.

"I think the press sometimes want to [create] a circus about it. That happens in every game when there’s an [argument] between the referee and an opposing player."

Messi’s team-mate Luis Suarez was also given a fine for "violating the hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent policy" at half-time of the game.

Suarez was involved in an incident with New York City defender Birk Risa following the half-time whistle.

Referee 'banned' for Messi request

Last week it was a referee who landed in hot water following an incident with Messi.

Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava took charge of Inter Miami’s game against Sporting KC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Following the match, Ortiz Nava approached Messi seemingly to ask for his shirt.

However, it was revealed in a statement by CONCACAF that Ortiz Nava had spoken to Messi to "request an autograph for a family member with special needs."

The statement added: "The referee's conduct does not align with the Confederation's Code of Conduct for match officials and existing processes for these types of requests.