Lionel Messi saw the fifth yellow card at the time, in the two-ball draw with FC Cincinnati, but was not suspended and will even be able to go to the game at the New England Revolution-Inter Miami, thanks to the so-called “Good Behavior Incentive” of MLS.
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31/10/2026
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O Inter Miami will be travelling, by 00 a.m. (Hour of Continental Portugal) next Monday, to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, to measure forces with the New England Revolution, in a meeting that is already speaking, for "blame" of... Lionel Messi.
This is because, contrary to what would be expected, the Argentine international will be able to be used by the compatriot, Cristian ‘Kily’ González, although it was sanctioned with the fifth yellow card of this 2026 sports season, last Wednesday, during the tie to two balls with FC Cincinnati, at Nu Stadium.
Under normal circumstances, the 39-year-old player would be sanctioned with a suspension game. However, he eventually benefited from the so-called “Incentive of Good Behavior” provided for in Major League Soccer (MLS) regulations, which ‘forgive’ those who spend a certain period of time without seeing cards.
“A player will automatically reduce his total accumulation of yellow cards by a yellow card whenever he passes five consecutive games without receiving a yellow card, a red card or supplemental discipline in those games. For clarity, a player cannot have a total accumulation of negative yellow cards; the Good Behaviour Incentive can only be restarted to a total of zero cards”, you can read.
“ This incentive will be automatically applied for a maximum of three times throughout the regular MLS season. For example, if a player who has three yellow cards at the time completes five consecutive games without receiving a supplementary card or discipline, that player will have a yellow card removed from its total accumulation, leaving the player with a total of two yellow cards ", continues.
“ The incentive can be applied for a maximum of three times during the regular season, and will only have effect when the game in question is over”, the competition regulation.
How's Messi's disciplinary situation?
Lionel Messi saw the first yellow card of the season on April 18, in the triumph over Colorado Rapids, by 2-3, and the second only three games later, on May 3, in the defeat suffered before Orlando City, by 3-4. A five-game interregnum followed, until, on August 16, it was re-sanctioned, in the win against Nashville SC, by 4-1.
The fourth chart took 11 games to arrive. More specifically, on October 18, in the victory against Atlanta United, by 1-3. As for the fifth, as already mentioned, two meetings were held at mid-week, in equality to two goals with FC Cincinnati. This means that, in practice, the Argentine international has only three yellows in the personal account.
A good news for Inter Miami, which, despite having already mathematically guaranteed access to the American football champion clearance playoffs, still seeks to finish in the best possible position. At this time, it is third ranked, with 56 points, minus 14 than the leader, the Nashville SC, and less two than the second, the New England Revolution.