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Inter Miami will have Lionel Messi and Ian Fray in the lineup for their Saturday fixture against Toronto FC, though both players face financial penalties following heated confrontations during the 2–2 draw with the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday evening.
Messi and Fray were prominent figures at Subaru Park as tensions escalated between the two most recent Supporters' Shield champions throughout the 90 minutes. While both teams showed plenty of attacking quality, it was a late-match brawl — resulting in red cards for Union's 16-year-old sensation Cavan Sullivan and Miami's MLS All-Star Yannick Bright — that dominated the post-match conversation.
The melee started when the Union's Quinn Sullivan drove into the box before being brought down by Bright and center back Gonzalo Luján. Fray then stood over the fallen Quinn Sullivan, prompting the elder Sullivan brother to perform a WWE-style body flip on Fray in retaliation, igniting a wider confrontation — and the sequence of events that resulted in red cards for Cavan Sullivan and Bright.
Although Messi and Fray weren't the primary participants in the stoppage-time chaos, both were involved in separate aggressive incidents, resulting in undisclosed fines following a review by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.
Messi Makes Contact With Sullivan, Earns Fine
Messi escaped a card during the Union match but was fined for breaching MLS policy regarding contact with an opponent's face, head, or neck. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, visibly frustrated, appeared to strike Quinn Sullivan on the back of the neck earlier in the game, prompting a head-to-head confrontation and a quick intervention from the referee to defuse the situation.
"With all due respect, Messi, you don't come into Philly doing that," former Union forward C.J. Sapong said Friday. "I don't condone violence, don't get me wrong, but knowing a little bit about the Sullivan brothers and how they were raised, this is a mentality that's been with them since they were young. There's an intensity in how they move, how they train — there's a real sense of pride."
Lionel Messi slapping 22-year-old USMNT and Philadelphia Union forward Quinn Sullivan in the back of the head 😮 pic.twitter.com/E87sMnhvng
This is not the first time Messi has faced disciplinary action from MLS. Back in February 2025, he was fined for placing his hands on the neck of New York City FC assistant coach Mehdi Ballouchy — on the same day longtime teammate Luis Suárez was also fined for making contact with the neck of then-NYCFC defender Birk Risa.
Despite letting his emotions get the better of him against the Union, Messi managed to find the net for his first goal since the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, to secure the draw.
Messi's MLS fine came just hours after FIFA handed sanctions to the Argentina men's national team for conduct at the World Cup, totaling $321,000 for using a sporting event for non-sporting demonstrations, team misconduct, discrimination, and racist abuse and discriminatory chants and gestures from supporters. Messi himself, however, was not individually punished.
Fray's Sullivan Altercation Fined
Much like Messi, Fray was fined for violating the face, head, and neck policy in connection with his decision to stand over Quinn Sullivan, which ignited the broader skirmish between the two clubs. While Fray is not known as a dirty player, the sanction marks his third fine within the last 12 months.
In May, MLS fined Fray for breaching the league's public criticism policy after he made disparaging and unsubstantiated remarks about refereeing bias following a 4–3 defeat to Orlando City, in which Miami squandered a 3–0 lead before conceding in second-half stoppage time. The previous season, he was also fined for simulation in a match against rivals Nashville SC.
Critical Matchup vs. Toronto
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Following last week's 4–1 defeat to Supporters' Shield leaders Nashville SC and the midweek stalemate against Philadelphia, Inter Miami can ill afford to keep dropping points if they want to stay in contention at the top of MLS and the Eastern Conference.
Heading into the home clash against Toronto, the Herons trail Nashville by seven points and could slip from second to fourth in the overall MLS standings depending on other results. On a positive note, striker Germán Berterame could be in line to return from a concussion. Toronto FC, meanwhile, will be without summer signing Niklas Dorsch due to a facial fracture, despite the midfielder scoring twice in his first three appearances.