Where could the conflict between Messi and Don Garber come from?: "Not with me"'

Leo Messi and Don Garber, MLS commissioner, were at the center of the image from the Campeones Cup final between Inter Miami and Cruz Azul. It happened after the final whistle, when Messi was celebrating the title with his teammates and had a tense exchange with Garber, who seemed to be trying to smooth things over, though without success. The question left hanging in the air is clear: where do the problems come from?

There is no official comment about it, neither from Messi nor from Don Garber. According to the American outlet Hitc, the origin of the falling-out could be a comment by the MLS commissioner during the 2026 World Cup.

What did Garber say about Messi in July?

In an interview with Front Office Sports, Don Garber said that Messi complains to him about certain refereeing disputes with MLS referees.

"After a match, the president of the United States Soccer Federation, its chief executive officer, and I went down to the referees' locker room, waited for Ismail, one of our referees, to come out, and thanked him for having officiated probably the most difficult match of his career. I don't think Leo was very happy during that match," he stated.

"I'm not sure he sees me as the guy who picks the referees; I don't, but he has to complain to someone. I accept it," he commented.

What did Messi allegedly say to Garber after the final?

The Argentine legend, "looking none too friendly, said a few things to him. "Not with me," he blurted out, without hiding his displeasure or covering his mouth. And then he kept after him...", according to Olé.

The Argentine newspaper also recalled that the conflict between the two goes back a long way, to when Messi decided not to play in the 2025 All Stars and received a one-match suspension for that reason. A decision that angered the Argentine, who was trying to take care of his physical condition as he was not at 100%.

"According to league rules, any player who does not participate in the All-Star Game without prior league approval is not eligible to compete in his club's next match," the MLS statement reported. Don Garber also spoke: "We have a long-standing policy on participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision," Garber said at the time.