Garber Declines to Detail Messi Confrontation, Calls Him 'Greatest Athlete of All Time'

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has opted to keep the specifics of a confrontation with Lionel Messi private, while simultaneously lauding the Argentine superstar as the "greatest athlete of all time." The incident occurred in September after Inter Miami secured the Campeones Cup.

During the Front Office Sports “Tuned In” summit in New York, Garber addressed the moment when Messi was seen gesturing angrily towards him on the field. "The best players in the world have passion. The legendary players have more than passion," Garber stated during a discussion. "There are players throughout history…who play with a sense of intensity and passion that makes them unique and special, and makes [Messi] the G.O.A.T of all G.O.A.Ts. So what was going on there is between me and Leo, not something I’m going to talk about with you."

Messi joined Major League Soccer in 2023, a move that has significantly boosted the league's profile. However, Garber acknowledged that the relationship between Messi and the league has not always been smooth. He referenced an instance last season when Messi received a one-game suspension for missing the MLS All-Star game, a violation of league policy.

Despite the undisclosed past tensions, Garber expressed admiration for Messi's passion. "I think it’s what makes Leo Messi the greatest player ever to play the game of soccer and I will go and say the greatest athlete of all time," Garber said. "There isn’t a player who has done as much as he has done, has the recognition and has the respect."

Garber is set to conclude his tenure as commissioner on January 1, handing over leadership to Larry Berg. Messi recently played his final international match for Argentina, scoring a goal in a farewell game in Buenos Aires. Since joining Inter Miami, Messi has scored 104 goals across all competitions and led the team to its first MLS Cup title.