Lionel Messi is eligible for Inter Miami CF's match against the New England Revolution on Sunday despite receiving his fifth yellow card of the season on Wednesday.
Messi received a yellow card in the 44th minute of Miami's 2-2 draw with FC Cincinnati on Wednesday at Nu Stadium, taking his total for the season to five. The Inter Miami captain was also booked during match weeks eight, 11, 20, 31 and 33.
MLS rules state that a player will "automatically reduce his yellow card accumulation total by one yellow card each time he appears in five consecutive matches without receiving a yellow card, red card or supplemental discipline in such matches."
The league's "good behavior incentive" is applied a maximum of three times throughout the regular season.
Messi went more than five games without receiving a yellow card, pardoning his previous yellow card. Though the yellow card will remain on Messi's disciplinary record, the booking no longer counts towards the amount that would force him to face a suspension.
Inter Miami head coach Cristian González said the team no longer has a margin of error when it comes to dropping points during the regular season as they chase Concacaf Champions Cup qualification.
"I am convinced that the frustration we're feeling, much like after the previous match, must make us stronger, because we no longer have any margin for error," González said Wednesday after the draw with Cincinnati. "We need to realize that we are a club that must step up, take risks, be bold, and play football without the fear of making mistakes."
Inter Miami sits in third place in the Eastern Conference, just two points behind the Revs.
Regardless of the outcome, the Herons and Revs have both already qualified for the 2026 MLS playoffs, but Miami's spot in next season's Champions Cup will depend in large part on Sunday's match.
The winners of MLS Cup, the Leagues Cup, U.S. Open Cup, MLS Supporters' Shield and the league's Eastern and Western Conference champions each get a spot in the Champions Cup. With Nashville having secured the Supporters' Shield, second place in the East will get one of the automatic spots, making this penultimate game of the season crucial for the two sides.