Furious Messi Nearly Sees Red, Saved by Opponent’s Coach!

May 16, 2025: In an unexpected twist during Wednesday night’s intense MLS match between Inter Miami and San Jose Earthquakes, it wasn’t a teammate or an official who prevented Lionel Messi from receiving a post-match red card — it was his opponent’s coach, Bruce Arena.

The match ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw, but the final whistle didn’t bring peace to the pitch. During stoppage time, Messi was brought down just outside the box, but the referee waved play on. The Argentine superstar, clearly frustrated with the non-call, lashed out verbally at the officials. After the match ended, Messi’s agitation escalated. He continued to confront the referees and was eventually shown a yellow card for dissent.

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At that moment, things could have spiraled out of control — until Bruce Arena, San Jose’s head coach, stepped in.

“He was obviously not happy, and I wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to get a red card,” Arena said during the post-match press conference. “I just tried to move him out of the way, because for him to get a red card at the end of the game would have been ridiculous.”

In video footage from the pitch, Arena can be seen stepping between Messi and the officials, gently guiding the football legend away from the escalating confrontation. His timely intervention may have preserved Messi’s availability for Inter Miami’s next game against Orlando City.

“I just wanted to make sure we get him out of there and he’s ready to play the next game for Miami,” Arena added, showcasing a rare moment of sportsmanship from a rival coach.

Messi, who has been instrumental for Inter Miami this season with five goals and three assists in nine MLS matches, remains a critical player for the club, which has had a rocky run recently. The draw gave Miami a point, but they are now 1-2-1 in their last four league matches, and have conceded 17 goals across their last six games in all competitions.

While Inter Miami continues to work on tightening its defense, Messi’s presence on the pitch remains vital — and thanks to Bruce Arena, he’ll be there for the next battle.