Lionel Messi makes his feelings clear live on TV about a bizarre new MLS rule during the middle of a match

Lionel Messi spoke directly to TV viewers as he made his feelings clear about a bizarre MLS rule change during the middle of a match.

Major League Soccer has improved massively over the past decade or so, with better foreign stars and a growing number of homegrown talents calling the league home.

The arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami certainly played a part of increasing the global appeal of MLS, especially as a group of his former Barcelona teammates ended up joining him.

One of the interesting things about MLS is that the league is never afraid to be a little different, and that includes introducing new rules.

For the 2024 season, MLS introduced a rule that forces players who receive on-field treatment to stay off the pitch for two minutes.

The law is intended to crack down on players time-wasting by discouraging them from faking injury, although Messi is not a fan.

The rule can be exploited by teams looking to get an opponent's star player out of the game, and that was exactly the case on Saturday evening.

Messi required treatment after being fouled during Inter Miami's meeting with CF Montreal, and he was less the pleased with having to spend two minutes on the sidelines.

With his side 2-0 down after 43 minutes, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner turned to the TV camera behind him and said: "With this kind of rule, we're headed in the wrong direction."

ميسي ؟ pic.twitter.com/jPCjKLjGLU

— Messi Xtra (@M30Xtra) May 12, 2024

Fortunately for Miami, Messi's absence didn't hamper their efforts to get back into the match.

Matias Rojas scored a stunning 30-yard free-kick while his superstar teammate was off the field, before Luis Suarez drew the Herons level in the third minute of first-half injury time.

Benjamin Cremaschi put Miami in front after the break and Miami went on to win 3-2.

Inter Miami remain top of the Eastern Conference with 27 points and an 8-2-3 (W-L-D) record.

Messi and his teammates will look to extend their winning streak to six games when they travel to Orlando City on May 15.