Inter Miami will be without Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for Saturday’s crucial showdown against FC Cincinnati after both players were suspended by Major League Soccer for missing this week’s All-Star Game. An MLS spokesperson confirmed that Inter Miami had notified the league of Messi and Alba’s unavailability for All-Star duties. However, the absence of an officially sanctioned medical explanation has triggered an automatic one-match suspension under league rules. “Inter Miami CF’s Jordi Alba and Lionel Messi will be unavailable for the club’s match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 26, due to their absence at this week’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game. Per league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club’s next match,” an offical statement from the MLS read. MLS mandates that players selected for the All-Star Game who skip the event without an approved medical reason face disciplinary action, which in this case, means missing the next league match. Both Messi and Alba were absent not only from the All-Star Game itself but also from associated events such as media appearances and the pre-match skills competition. Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano had expressed hope on Friday that both players might be fit for the weekend fixture, downplaying concerns over any formal sanctions. But alas, Inter Miami shall now lose their two stars for the upcoming fixture. Both Stars Returned to Training Despite their suspensions, both Messi and Alba took part in training on Friday. Mascherano said their availability would depend on how they responded physically, though the league’s ruling ultimately rendered that point moot. Lionel Messi remains in peak form. After scoring 23 goals in 25 games last season and powering Miami to an MLS-record 74 points, the Argentine maestro has added 24 goals in 29 matches so far this year. Jordi Alba, meanwhile, continues to deliver consistently from the back. The 36-year-old full-back has notched two goals across 29 appearances in all competitions and added eight assists in 19 MLS matches this season.