FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami played FC Cincinnati to a 0-0 draw without the suspended Lionel Messi on Saturday night.
Messi was not available after he and teammate Jordi Alba were suspended one match by Major League Soccer for skipping the All-Star game. Messi was still in attendance on Saturday, watching from a suite at Chase Stadium.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas called the punishment “draconian” on Friday, saying that Messi was “extremely upset" at the suspension that sidelined him for an important match as Miami pushes for its second-straight MLS Supporters' Shield.
Miami coach Javier Mascherano questioned if the league would have still suspended Messi if Inter Miami had been playing an away game.
“To fill stadiums and sell tickets, nobody complains," Mascherano said through an interpreter Saturday, adding that the team had informed MLS that Messi was dealing with fatigue because of Miami's congested schedule.
“It’s strange,” Mascherano said, “one day they say something, and the next day they say something else. We all heard what was said — that it was understandable the number of matches that he had been playing.”
Miami and Cincinnati both entered the matchup as winners of six of their last seven. Cincinnati, which routed Messi and Inter Miami 3-0 last Wednesday, is second in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 49 points, while Inter Miami is fifth with 42 points.
Cincinnati defender Miles Robinson nearly scored the winner a couple minutes into stoppage time on Saturday when he headed home MVP candidate Evander's free kick, but the goal was disallowed because of a foul.
Veteran striker Luis Suárez made several incredible passes in the opening minutes, including one to Fafà Picault, whose header was denied by Cincinnati goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
Before the match, Miami introduced Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's good friend and national team buddy who officially signed with the club on Friday. Fans at Chase Stadium cheered and waved welcome signs as the new Miami star walked onto the pitch.
“I'm going to give everything I have,” De Paul told the crowd.
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)
Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez (9) heads the ball against Nashville SC defender Jeisson Palacios (4) during the second half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--
Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”), a leading developer and operator of microsatellites dedicated to realizing its vision of “Space within Your Reach,” has made a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jethi Software Development PLC (“Jethi”), an Ethiopian technology company, to cooperate on addressing social and development challenges through the utilization of satellite-based Earth observation (EO) data.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114413353/en/
The MoU was signed by Naol Debele, Chief Executive Officer of Jethi, and Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace. The signing ceremony, held in Ethiopia on January 13 (local time), was attended by representatives of the Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) of Ethiopia, members of the Jethi Board of Directors and invited guests, in an official and protocol capacity.
Axelspace positions the expansion of EO data utilization in emerging markets, including Africa, as a key medium- to long-term strategic priority. Through this collaboration, Axelspace aims to support locally driven, data-informed solutions.
Under the MoU, Axelspace will provide EO data and know-how for its utilization across priority sectors, including agriculture, environmental and forest conservation, disaster risk management and climate resilience, urban planning and infrastructure development. Jethi will lead the establishment of a local framework for EO data utilization in Ethiopia, coordinating with relevant stakeholders to integrate satellite data with local information and institutional requirements. The partnership aims to identify priority challenges, develop scalable solutions that combine EO data with local information, and foster the growth of a sustainable ecosystem for satellite data utilization in Ethiopia.
Axelspace is participating in the “Emerging Countries Working Group”, which was launched in 2024 by Cross U, a general incorporated association, to promote space business co-creation between Japan and African countries.
“With the economic development of emerging countries, including those in Africa, the demand for satellite data utilization is expected to increase significantly,” said Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace. “We will work to build win-win relationships that create new value with local public and private sector partners, leveraging Japan’s advanced technological capabilities and expertise to contribute to the long-term development of a platform for satellite data utilization.”
For the full press release, please visit: https://www.axelspace.com/news/mou_ethiopia/
Naol Debele, Chief Executive Officer of Jethi (left), and Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace, at the signing ceremony on January 13 in Ethiopia
