FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The owner of Inter Miami called Major League Soccer's suspension of Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for skipping the All-Star Game a “draconian” punishment.
“They don't understand the decision,” owner Jorge Mas said Friday of the one-game suspensions. “They don't understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension.”
Messi and Alba did not suit up for the match between the MLS and Liga MX of Mexico despite being voted to the game. Messi did not play to rest amid a packed schedule and Alba was dealing with a previous injury. Mas said the club made the decision for Messi and Alba to sit out of the All-Star Game.
Per MLS rules, any player who doesn't participate in the All-Star Game without prior approval from the league is ineligible to compete in their club's next match.
The players will miss Miami's home match Saturday against FC Cincinnati, which sits atop the Eastern Conference standings. Both Messi and Alba practiced with the club on Friday in anticipation of playing in Saturday's match before MLS announced the suspension.
“I know Lionel Messi loves this league,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "I don’t think there’s a player — or anyone — who has done more for Major League Soccer than Messi. I fully understand, respect, and admire his commitment to Inter Miami, and I respect his decision.
“Unfortunately, we have a long-standing policy regarding participation in the All-Star Game, and we had to enforce it. It was a very difficult decision.”
Garber added that the league will re-evaluate the policy and work with players to "determine how the rule should evolve.”
Mas said Inter Miami expressed its disagreement over the suspension and the rule. Mas also noted there were six MLS games Friday night less than 48 hours after an All-Star Game.
“That's not right,” Mas said. "That's not right to the players.”
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Inter Miami defender Jordi Alba, left, and forward Lionel Messi chat as they arrive before the start of an MLS soccer match against Toronto FC, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 13, 2026--
The Zayed Sustainability Prize, the UAE’s pioneering award for innovative solutions to global challenges, today announced the cohort of 2026 winners, celebrating 18 years of empowering communities and driving inclusive, sustainable progress around the world.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113958706/en/
In a ceremony held during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) and attended by Heads of State, Ministers, and business leaders, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, awarded the winners for their outstanding contributions to advancing sustainable development worldwide.
H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said: “The UAE remains firmly committed to supporting efforts that enhance people’s well-being and strengthen the foundations of stability and progress around the world. The Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to encourage practical solutions that uplift communities and expand opportunity through innovation and cooperation. Through this enduring platform, we honour the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, whose vision of compassion, unity, and shared prosperity continues to shape a better future for all.”
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Director General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, praised the winners for advancing scalable innovations that deliver tangible social and environmental benefits.
H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said: “This year’s winners demonstrate how practical, real-world solutions can transform lives — from strengthening health and food systems to expanding access to clean energy and water. The UAE has long believed in connecting capability with need, and in building bridges across sectors and regions to deliver lasting, measurable impact. It is a conviction rooted in inclusive progress, and through the Zayed Sustainability Prize, this vision is translated into action by supporting innovations that put people first and open new pathways for growth.”
Since its establishment in 2008, the Prize has become a catalyst for impact, rewarding small and medium-sized enterprises, nonprofit organisations, and high schools that are addressing critical challenges across the six categories of Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools. Through its 128 winners, the Prize has impacted over 411 million lives.
This cycle, a record 7,761 submissions were received from 173 countries, reviewed through a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process by technical experts, the Selection Committee, and a distinguished Jury chaired by H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former President of Iceland.
H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said: “The 2026 winners reflect a growing maturity in sustainability innovation — where technology, local knowledge, and execution come together. These solutions are designed to work in real-world conditions and to grow responsibly over time. They offer clear examples of how practical ingenuity, informed by experience, can strengthen access to essential services and improve everyday lives. As these approaches continue to expand, they point the way toward a more inclusive and effective path for sustainable development in the years ahead.”
In the Health category, Jade, an SME from the UAE, was honoured for reimagining neurodevelopmental screening through AI and play. Its gamified platform, combining cognitive assessments, eye-tracking, and personalised learning, is now used in over 450 institutions across 179 countries. By reducing diagnostic wait times and improving engagement, Jade has already supported more than 180,000 children worldwide and is setting a new benchmark for inclusive early intervention.
The Food category award went to N&E Innovations of Singapore, recognised for its breakthrough biodegradable antimicrobial packaging and coatings that extend food shelf life while tackling waste at its source. Made from upcycled food waste and plant-based ingredients, the company’s patented technology delivers 99.9% antimicrobial effectiveness, achieving bacterial counts 4.5 times lower than conventional materials. Food-safe, compostable, and circular by design, more than 400,000 sustainable packs have already reached consumers.
In the Energy category, Switzerland’s BASE Foundation was recognised for transforming how communities access sustainable cooling. Its Cooling-as-a-Service model eliminates upfront costs and makes low-carbon cooling both efficient and affordable. Operating in 68 countries, BASE has created 2,500 jobs, while its model saves 130 GWh of electricity and prevents 81,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year, demonstrating how market-based innovation can scale environmental impact.
The Water category recognised Stattus4, an SME from Brazil, whose AI- and IoT-enabled technology helps utilities detect and fix leaks with unprecedented speed and precision. Monitoring more than 5,000 kilometres of distribution networks and identifying over 22,000 potential leak points, Stattus4 saves around 5.56 billion litres of water every day, strengthening water security for over four million people and transforming the efficiency of urban water systems.
In the Climate Action category, Build up Nepal, a nonprofit organisation from Nepal, was celebrated for reinventing brickmaking as a tool for climate resilience and economic empowerment. To date, the organisation has produced over 3.3 million earthquake-resistant eco-bricks and supported the construction of more than 12,000 resilient homes, creating nearly 2,000 green jobs, housing 58,000 people, and avoiding 110,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions in the process.
Finally, the Zayed Sustainability Prize continues to empower the next generation of sustainability leaders through its Global High Schools category, enabling youth to turn local challenges into practical solutions that benefit their communities. Each year, six high schools representing the world’s regions receive up to US $150,000 to implement innovative, student-led projects that create meaningful social, economic, and environmental impact. To date, the Prize’s 56 previous Global High Schools winners have impacted the lives of over 56,599 students and 480,660 people across the globe.
The 2026 recipients of the Global High Schools awards are Mamawi Atosketan Native School (Canada), representing The Americas; Kyanja High School (Uganda), representing Sub-Saharan Africa; Al Rajaa School for the Deaf (Jordan), representing the Middle East & North Africa; Bodrum Anatolian High School (Türkiye), representing Europe & Central Asia; Faafu Atoll Education Center (Maldives), representing South Asia; and Ruamrudee International School (Thailand), representing East Asia & Pacific.
As the world accelerates its pursuit of sustainable development, the Zayed Sustainability Prize stands as a testament to the UAE’s holistic vision of progress driven by technological innovation and long-term economic growth. The Prize reflects the nation’s belief that true leadership lies in empowering others to lead, fostering collaboration among governments, enterprises, civil society, and youth to build a more prosperous and equitable world.
About the Zayed Sustainability Prize
The Zayed Sustainability Prize is the UAE’s pioneering award for innovative solutions to global challenges.
A tribute to the legacy and vision of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Prize aims to drive sustainable development worldwide.
Each year, across the Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action and Global High Schools categories, the Prize rewards organisations and high schools for groundbreaking solutions to our planet’s most pressing needs.
Through its 128 winners, in 18 years, the Prize has positively impacted over 411 million lives across the globe, inspiring innovators to amplify their impact, and chart a sustainable future for all.
Source:AETOSWire
The 2026 winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize were recognised by the President of the UAE in Abu Dhabi on 13 January 2026 (Photo: AETOSWire)
