Lionel Messi is accused of explicitly insulting the MLS referee in an angry exchange

Lionel Messi avoided a red card despite being accused of swearing at the referee during Inter Miami's 1-1 draw with Charlotte FC.

The Argentine icon got on the scoresheet during Saturday night's dramatic MLS clash but left the pitch in anger.

Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were angry at the referee for denying them two penalties in the final moments of the game.

One was called off after a VAR review and Luis Suarez thought he had been tackled by the goalkeeper in stoppage time but was not awarded a penalty.

As Argentine newspaper Ole reported on Mundo Deportivo, Messi called the referee a “malicious son of a bastard” after the final whistle and received a yellow card for his protests.

The point still means Inter Miami can win the Supporters' Shield, awarded to the best team of the MLS regular season, in their next game against closest rivals Columbus Crew.

A win would also secure the Florida team first place in the East for the MLS Cup.

Inter Miami has already qualified for the play-offs and can still break the record for most points in a regular season by getting the maximum points in the remaining three games.

Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said after the game: “I wish this was a 34-date tournament and whoever scores the most points would be the champions.”

“Then it would be great, we see it with good eyes to be the best team in the regular phase. But the truth is that we would all feel very empty if we weren’t fighting for the championship.”

“So yes, we have a very important game, but still the remaining games – Toronto and New England – will also be important and crucial games.

“I think we will definitely fight until the last day of the match.”

2

Messi, who scored his 15th goal in 16 league games, missed a significant portion of the MLS regular season due to injury and continues to work toward returning to full fitness.

“Leo gets better and better as he adds 90 minutes,” Martino added.

“Of course, Leo doesn't have to do differentiated physical work in training, but he needs a competitive rhythm, which leads me to believe that he will reach the playoffs very well, because in addition to the games with us, he also has the games with the Argentine national team .

“So we have high hopes that he comes into the playoffs in very good shape.”