Messi makes history overnight, but joy turns to anger at Don Garber: "Not you with me"

Lionel Messi continues to make football history at the age of 39: overnight, the Argentine champion won the Campeones Cup – the competition that pits the winners of Major League Soccer against those of the Mexican championship – when Inter Miami defeated Cruz Azul 2-0. Messi dominated the match with a goal (a rare header) and an assist for the second goal scored by Casemiro, taking home the MVP award and the 48th trophy of his career, which consolidates his record as the most decorated player in football history.

Messi, record after record for the Argentine champion

For the star from Rosario, it is the fourth title (one in a year) since arriving at Inter Miami, with the highlight of the championship won last season. The goal scored against Cruz Azul is the 100th with the club from Florida and the 929th of his professional career: Cristiano Ronaldo – who has reached the quota of 979 goals, 21 less than the desired 1000 goals – is not far behind, considering that the Portuguese is two years older.

Fierce confrontation with MLS Commissioner Don Garber

The joy of the Argentine Messi was, however, clouded by the meeting, which turned into an angry confrontation, with the MLS Commissioner, Don Garber: shortly after lifting the cup, the Inter Miami number 10 approached the manager - who has been leading the North American soccer league for 26 years - and yet, with an angry expression, he pushed him away, addressing a sharp sentence: "Not you with me."

Garber reacted with a smile and realized that it was better to leave. A little later, there was a second moment of tension, where this time it was Messi who passed Garber twice, saying something unpleasant to him on that occasion, while pointing his index finger at him.

The reasons for Messi's dissatisfaction with Garber

To understand the reasons for what happened, we have to go back to July of last year, when Leo did not appear in the MLS All-Star Game, prioritizing his physical condition. Messi was coming off a period in which he had played a lot, a full 9 games in 30 days, and preferred not to participate in a spectacle without any sporting or competitive value.

In response, the Garber-led Major League suspended him for one championship game, strictly enforcing the league’s rule that “any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval of the league is not permitted to play in his team’s next game.” At the time, the Commissioner commented: “We have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.” A decision that left Pleshti furious and that Leo seems not to have forgotten, holding Garber accountable directly in front of everyone.