Lionel Messi May Face MLS Penalties for His Celebration Following Inter Miami’s Title Win.
Lionel Messi finds himself in the middle of a potential controversy following Inter Miami’s latest trophy celebrations. After scoring two decisive goals in a 3-2 win over Columbus Crew that secured the club’s first ever Supporters’ Shield title , a picture posted on his Instagram account has raised some eyebrows.
In the image, Messi is shown holding the champion’s crest alongside Jorge Mas, co-owner of the team, while holding a bottle of its sports drink Mas+ in the other hand. This action has raised questions, since one of the official sponsors of the MLS is the rival brand BODYARMOR.
Despite this, sources close to the league have assured that there is no conflict of interest, as both clubs and players can have their own sponsors in specific categories. Therefore, Messi’s use of Mas+ drink does not represent a breach of MLS rules.
Messi, along with former Barcelona teammates Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, has been instrumental in Inter Miami’s success, leading the team to secure first place in the Eastern Conference and aiming for more titles in the upcoming matches.
