On February 23, during the opening match of the 2025 MLS season between Inter Miami and New York City, held in Fort Lauderdale, team captain Lionel Messi received a yellow card for the way he talked with the referee.
The incident took place in the fifteenth minute of added time in the second half. The 37-year-old Messi was emotional while speaking to the official, resulting in the yellow card. Despite receiving the warning, the star Argentine continued to shout at the referee. Notably, Miami were already playing with ten men starting from the 23rd minute after defender Tomas Aviles received a direct red card following the team's first goal.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Messi contributing to both of Inter Miami's goals with two assists.
On February 21, CONCACAF announced that the referee of the Round of 16 match in the Champions Cup against Sporting Kansas City (1-0), Mexican referee Marco Antonio Ortiz Nava, was disciplined for asking Messi, the game's sole goal scorer, for his jersey after the match.
