Major League Soccer (MLS) has issued an undisclosed financial fine to Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi following a contentious incident during the team's 2-2 draw against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.
The altercation occurred off the ball in the second half, when Messi engaged in a verbal dispute with Union midfielder Quinn Sullivan. Video evidence shows Messi briefly striking the back of Sullivan's neck. Match officials and other players intervened to separate the two.
The referee did not call a foul at the time of the incident. However, the MLS Disciplinary Committee reviewed the footage and opted to impose a fine rather than a suspension, allowing Messi to remain available for Inter Miami's upcoming matches.
The situation escalated when 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan, Quinn Sullivan's younger brother, stepped in to defend his sibling. This led to a larger scuffle involving multiple players, which resulted in red cards for Cavan Sullivan and Inter Miami's Yannick Bright. An independent review later rescinded Cavan Sullivan's red card and subsequent suspension.
Inter Miami's Ian Fray also received an undisclosed fine for a separate incident during the same stoppage-time period, involving grabbing Quinn Sullivan by the neck.
This is the second time Messi has been fined by MLS since joining the league in 2023. He previously received a fine in February 2025 for an incident with a New York City FC assistant coach.
In separate disciplinary actions, FIFA recently issued bans to Argentina teammates Leandro Paredes (10 matches) and Nahuel Molina (seven matches) for their roles in a post-match altercation following the World Cup final against Spain.