Inter Miami was held to a 0-0 draw against FC Cincinnati at Chase Stadium on Saturday night, as Lionel Messi served a one-match suspension. The suspension was handed down by Major League Soccer (MLS) after Messi, along with teammate Jordi Alba, did not participate in the MLS All-Star Game in Austin, Texas.

According to MLS rules, any player who skips the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match. Inter Miami's owner, Jorge Mas, criticized the league's decision, calling the punishment "draconian". Mas said that both Messi and Alba were "extremely upset" about the suspension. He explained that the club made the decision to hold the players out of the All-Star festivities because they were coming off a grueling stretch of games. Messi needed rest due to fatigue, while Alba was recovering from an injury.

Despite the absence of Messi and Alba, Inter Miami managed to secure a point against a strong Cincinnati side. Goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo had a standout performance, recording three saves and securing a clean sheet. Inter Miami had opportunities to score, with Fafa Picault and Marcelo Weigandt forcing saves from Cincinnati's keeper in the first half. In the second half, Cincinnati's Gerardo Valenzuela was denied by Ríos Novo, and Gonzalo Luján made a crucial goal-line clearance. Cincinnati thought they had snatched a late victory with a goal from Miles Robinson, but it was disallowed due to a foul.

Without Messi's attacking prowess, Inter Miami's offense struggled to find the back of the net. However, the midfield put in a strong performance, keeping Cincinnati's Evander quiet. Sergio Busquets, who captained the side in Messi's absence, put in a veteran performance. New signing Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's good friend, was introduced to the fans before the match.

The draw sees Inter Miami move to 12 wins, 4 losses, and 6 draws for a total of 42 points. Cincinnati, who are second in the Supporters Shield standings with 49 points, had defeated Inter Miami 3-0 in their previous encounter. Inter Miami are fifth in the Eastern Conference.

Inter Miami will begin Leagues Cup 2025 play on July 30 against Liga MX's Atlas.