Lionel Messi accused of blackballing Pedro de la Vega from Argentina national team in tense exchange during Inter Miami's Leagues Cup final loss to the Seattle Sounders

MLS rivals faced off in the 2025 Leagues Cup final, with the Sounders emerging victorious as they claimed a notable 3-0 victory. Tempers spilled over during and after that contest at Lumen Field - with Luis Suarez generating more unfortunate headlines.

One in-game incident saw Sounders star De la Vega become caught up in a tense exchange with fellow countrymen Messi and Rodrigo De Paul. It was during that discussion that eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi is said to have made a serious international threat to the 24-year-old winger.

MLS veteran Alan Gordon, who once played alongside David Beckham at the LA Galaxy, has told the Major League Journeymen podcast: “Messi told him - remember when they got into a little scuffle during the game. Messi told him to his face ‘You will never play for the national team as long as I am involved’. He basically blackballed him on the field. This happened. That is disgusting to me.”

Gordon claims to have been given that information by a reliable source. De la Vega, though, attempted to play down the argument after being named Leagues Cup MVP, telling reporters: “Messi and [Rodrigo] De Paul? They are the greatest. They are world champions and they are my idols. The clash was just part of the game. I tried to stay focused and not take it personally. Facing them as an Argentine carries a different kind of pressure.”

De la Vega has previously represented his country at U20 level. It remains to be seen whether he earns a senior call-up while Messi is involved, with the record-shattering all-time great hinting at bowing out of international football after the 2026 World Cup.