MLS commissioner Don Garber has addressed his heated exchange with Lionel Messi following Inter Miami's Campeones Cup victory over Cruz Azul in September, saying he admired the moment. Messi and Garber were seen in a tense discussion before the Inter Miami captain went to celebrate with his teammates and family members.
Speaking to Front Office Sports, Garber praised the passion of the game's greatest players. "The legendary players have more than passion. Leo played on Saturday, scored a couple goals and assists coming out of an international window where he played for Argentina, 39 years old," he said. He noted that Messi is leading the Golden Boot race and the MVP race, with 23 goals and 13 assists in MLS this season.
Garber compared Messi to legends such as Muhammad Ali, Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan, calling him the GOAT of all GOATS. He declined to go into detail about the confrontation. "What is going on there is between me and Leo, it's not something I am going to talk about with you," he said. "But I admire it, I appreciate it and I think it's what makes Leo Messi the greatest player ever to play football."
The two have not always seen eye to eye. In 2025, Garber suspended Messi and Jordi Alba for missing the MLS All-Star Game, and later defended the decision, saying leaders must be able to command respect. The pair also interacted at the 2025 MLS Cup, when Garber presented Messi with the trophy. Inter Miami currently sits second in the Eastern Conference with 49 points from 28 games.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing