Messi Avoids Suspension But Gets Fined

MLS has fined Lionel Messi after he struck Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan during Inter Miami's 2-2 draw.

By AtlasGoal Editorial TeamPublished on August 22, 2026 at 17:29🕒 1 min read

Match Recap

Philadelphia Union

2 - 2

Inter Miami

90'Red card: Y. Bright (Inter Miami)
90'Red card: C. Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
90'Yellow card: Q. Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
90'Substitution: ↑ D. Ruiz / ↓ D. Pinter (Inter Miami)
90'Yellow card: E. Alladoh (Philadelphia Union)
90'Final score: Philadelphia Union 2 - 2 Inter Miami
87'Yellow card: M. Iloski (Philadelphia Union)
82'Substitution: ↑ A. Bedoya / ↓ J. Bueno (Philadelphia Union)
82'Substitution: ↑ E. Alladoh / ↓ B. Damiani (Philadelphia Union)
73'Substitution: ↑ D. Ayala / ↓ T. Segovia (Inter Miami)
73'Substitution: ↑ N. Allen / ↓ S. Reguilon (Inter Miami)
68'Substitution: ↑ Q. Sullivan / ↓ I. Vassilev (Philadelphia Union)
62'VAR review
58'⚽ Goal for Philadelphia Union (N. Pierre)
55'Yellow card: I. Fray (Inter Miami)
50'Yellow card: S. Reguilon (Inter Miami)
45'Half-time
43'Yellow card: K. Wagner (Philadelphia Union)
26'⚽ Goal for Inter Miami (L. Messi)
21'⚽ Goal for Inter Miami (D. Pinter)
11'⚽ Goal for Philadelphia Union (I. Vassilev)
0'Kick-off

MLS has fined Lionel Messi after he struck Philadelphia Union's Quinn Sullivan around the back of the head, during Inter Miami's match against Philadelphia, which ended in a 2-2 draw.

What happened?

The incident occurred in the 101st minute of the match
Messi appeared angry after Sullivan elbowed him just after he had played the ball
The referee intervened to calm the situation before it escalated into a wider confrontation

The official punishment

Messi received neither a yellow nor a red card during the match, but the league fined him an undisclosed amount "for violating the league's policy regarding hands to the face/head/neck of an opponent." It is the second sanction Messi has received since joining MLS in 2023, following a fine in February 2025 for grabbing the neck of a New York City FC coaching staff member.