Lionel Messi keeps adding trophies with Inter Miami, but the club’s referee-related controversies are drawing more attention, too. Landon Donovan recently criticized Miami’s pattern of arguing after ties or losses, saying on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast that he was “so sick of it.”
The comments came around the same stretch in which Messi was seen in an animated post-match exchange with MLS Commissioner Don Garber after Inter Miami’s 2-0 Campeones Cup win over Cruz Azul. The exact reason for that exchange has not been publicly confirmed.
Donovan blasts Miami’s referee complaints
On the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Donovan said he is genuinely tired of watching Inter Miami players yell at referees, complain to other players, and get into fights every single time the team ties or loses.
Donovan admitted that referees sometimes make mistakes, and players naturally get frustrated in the moment. But he questioned why Miami seems to repeat this behavior weekly rather than move on quickly like other MLS teams.
His comments came after Inter Miami’s 2-2 draw against Nashville SC on September 12, where a stoppage-time equalizer denied Miami the win, and before their Campeones Cup final win over Cruz Azul days later.
Messi and Garber share a tense moment
Video footage showed Messi pointing his finger at MLS Commissioner Don Garber on the pitch after Inter Miami’s Campeones Cup win over Cruz Azul. The exchange quickly drew attention because it came moments after Miami lifted another trophy.
MLS declined to comment when asked by GOAL, while Inter Miami did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The exact reason for the post-match discussion has not been publicly confirmed.
The moment also followed a season in which Messi’s reactions to MLS officiating had already drawn coverage. Earlier in 2026, reports noted that Messi had been seen confronting officials after another Inter Miami match.
A familiar pattern for the Herons
Donovan compared the current Inter Miami situation to past complaints from former Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman, who Donovan said used to argue that referees favored the LA Galaxy.
Donovan recalled telling Beckerman that not every foul was part of a wider conspiracy. He said he now sees a similar pattern: Inter Miami reacts strongly after difficult results.
The comparison matters because Donovan played for the Galaxy during years when Beckerman was one of Real Salt Lake’s most recognizable players. However, the point here is Donovan’s opinion, not a proven pattern of referee bias.
Campeones Cup triumph adds a new layer
Inter Miami’s Campeones Cup win over Cruz Azul added another trophy to the club’s Messi-era run. The Herons defeated Cruz Azul 2-0 at Nu Stadium.
The victory kept Miami’s streak of trophies alive for a fourth straight season since Messi arrived in 2023. That run includes the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield, the 2025 MLS Cup, and the 2026 Campeones Cup.
Messi opened the scoring in the 24th minute, and Casemiro added Miami’s second goal in the 81st minute. Nu Stadium officially opened on April 4, 2026, as Inter Miami’s new home.
Messi reaches the century mark in Miami
Messi scored his 100th goal for Inter Miami during the Campeones Cup final against Cruz Azul this month. The milestone came in his 115th appearance for the club across all competitions.
That goal added to a trophy-winning night for Miami, as the Herons beat Cruz Azul 2-0 and claimed the 2026 Campeones Cup. Messi also assisted Casemiro’s late second goal.
Little-known fact: Barcelona’s Carles Rexach wrote an agreement to sign Messi on a napkin at a Barcelona tennis club in December 2000, helping reassure Messi’s father that the club was serious about the move.
This is not Donovan’s first complaint
This was hardly Donovan’s first time publicly criticizing behavior connected to Messi or Inter Miami on his popular podcast, either. He previously questioned Messi’s decision to walk straight down the tunnel after a playoff loss.
That earlier comment came after Inter Miami’s playoff exit to Atlanta United, when Messi left the field without properly acknowledging the fans or opponents following a disappointing 3-2 defeat overall.
Donovan explained then that simple gestures, like shaking hands or thanking loyal supporters, matter regardless of how disappointing a result feels afterward for everyone involved. Consistency in sportsmanship remained his central point across both instances.
Why this debate matters for MLS
Donovan’s comments highlight a broader tension between passionate competitiveness and expectations of sportsmanship in modern professional soccer. With Messi leading one of the league’s highest-profile teams, Inter Miami’s reactions naturally draw extra attention.
Whether Inter Miami changes its approach remains uncertain heading into the rest of the season. The club’s success on the field has continued, even as Donovan and other observers have questioned some of its conduct after difficult results.
For now, Donovan’s blunt assessment adds another storyline to a season already shaped by trophies, milestones, and constant conversation around Messi and Inter Miami.
TL;DR
- Landon Donovan criticized Inter Miami’s pattern of arguing with referees after ties or losses on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast.
- Messi had an animated post-match exchange with MLS Commissioner Don Garber after Miami’s Campeones Cup win.
- Donovan compared the situation to Kyle Beckerman’s past complaints about referees and the LA Galaxy.
- Inter Miami beat Cruz Azul 2-0 in the Campeones Cup, continuing a four-season trophy streak since Messi arrived.
- Messi scored his 100th Inter Miami goal in the final, and Casemiro added the second goal.
- Messi reached 100 goals in 115 appearances for Inter Miami across all competitions.
- Donovan previously criticized Messi after Inter Miami’s 2024 playoff loss to Atlanta United.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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