Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi watched Coldplay at the Hard Rock Stadium as part of an eventful weekend for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
MLS joint-top scorer Messi was controversially banned for the Herons’ 0-0 home draw with second-placed Cincinnati on Saturday after missing the All-Star Game without permission from the league.
The 38-year-old was said to have been “very, very angry” with the decision, but he looked far happier as the sporting icon was caught on camera at the gig and snapped by his wife in an Instagram post.
The 65,000-seat stadium is located around eight miles from Messi’s Fort Lauderdale base and is the home of NFL team the Miami Dolphins.
Coldplay x Messi
No words, no interviews — just greatness.#Messi #Coldplay #GOAT #InterMiami #ASkyFullOfStars pic.twitter.com/zjm8HKZRWD
— Daniel Solana (@DiceElDani) July 28, 2025
Lionel Messi: Coldplay kiss cam cameo
When the show’s ‘kiss cam’ honed in on Messi and his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, the 2022 World Cup winner laughed and waved while singer Chris Martin spoke to him from the stage.
“Well, Leo, my beautiful brother,” said Martin, as sections of the crowd also sang Messi’s name.
“You and your wife are looking so fine. Thanks for coming today to see our band play – the number one sportsperson of all time.”
Lionel Messi family
Messi has been in a relationship with Roccuzzo since 2008, with the couple marrying in Rosario in 2017.
They watched the show with their three sons, Mateo, Thiago and Ciro, and Roccuzzo shared a family portrait from their seats on her Instagram account, which has more than 40.1 million followers.
Why was Lionel Messi banned by the MLS?
Messi, who is by far the league’s most high-profile player, received a one-match ban alongside team-mate and fellow Barcelona icon Jordi Alba in a decision described by MLS Commissioner Don Garber as “very, very difficult”.
The MLS has to give permission for players to miss the game – which their team won 3-1 against an All-Star team from Mexican top flight the Liga MX on Wednesday – for reasons such as injuries.
Speaking before the suspensions were announced, Miami manager Javier Mascherano described the timing of the MLS All-Star Game – which required Messi and Alba to make a round trip of more than 2,200 miles to Austin, Texas – as “crazy”.
Miami manager Javier Mascherano said wideman Alba had suffered a knock but Messi was suffering from “discomfort” rather than injury.
“Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it,” said Garber, via the Miami Herald.
Lionel Messi banned vs Cincinnati
Before fifth-placed Miami’s draw with Cincy, Messi had played every minute in 22 of their previous 23 games in all competitions, scoring at least two goals in six of their previous seven MLS games, including a run of five straight.
Messi and Alba returned to training on Friday and had been expected to be in Miami’s starting side against Cincinnati, who are seven points ahead of them.
Miami have three matches in hand because of their involvement in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup in June.
Last season’s Supporters’ Shield winners played five matches in 14 days from July 5, including a 3-0 defeat at Cincinnati on July 16 — the only game along the way in which Messi did not score.
Lionel Messi net worth
Messi earned $135 million in 2025 according to financial site Forbes, which listed the Argentina skipper as the fifth-highest earning athlete in the world for the year and the second-highest footballer, alongside generational rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
$60m is said to have come from his salary and on-pitch earnings, with $75m reportedly courtesy of endorsements with the likes of Adidas, Apple, Beats by Dre, Epic Games, Hard Rock Cafe, Mastercard and PepsiCo.
Lionel Messi stats
Messi is the reigning MLS MVP, with no player in the league outscoring his 18 goals.
He recovered from a 3-0 defeat to Cincinnati on July 17 by scoring twice and setting up another goal in their 5-1 win at New York Red Bulls the following Saturday.
Miami are fifth in the Eastern Conference, having scored 10 more goals than Cincinnati and seven more than any other side this season.
Lionel Messi contract, salary
Messi remains the most high-profile player in the world alongside Ronaldo and has an optional extra year in his Miami contract.
Speaking to Marca after Messi’s arrival was first announced in July 2023, Mas said the four-time Champions League winner would earn up to $60m a year.
Messi’s purported playing salary of up to $20.4m is considerably more than any other player in the US and is heftily increased by holding equity in the club and payments from league broadcasters Apple.
The sporting great has spoken of his happiness at Miami and hinted that he will sign a contract extension.
Lionel Messi Inter Miami record
The club was formed by a group including former England captain David Beckham in 2018 and made Messi one of the most prestigious MLS signings of all time five years later, winning their first trophy with the help of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Uruguay all-time top scorer Luis Suarez when they triumphed in the 2023 Leagues Cup.
In his first full campaign with the club, Messi averaged an MLS-record 2.18 goal contributions per 90 minutes in 2024 to help Miami win their first Supporters’ Shield.
He has 24 goals and eight assists in 29 appearances in all competitions in 2025, with former Argentina midfielder Mascherano taking over as boss before the start of the season.
Coldplay tour 2025
Coldplay played twice at the Hard Rock Stadium as part of a spell of almost two months visiting US stadiums during the Music of the Spheres tour, which began in 2022.
Here are their remaining dates, including 10 at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Craven Park Hull, UK
August 18, 19
Wembley Stadium, London, UK
August 22, 23, 26, 27, 30, 31; September 3, 4, 7, 8
