Lionel Messi, the Inter Miami superstar, will be excused from participating in next week's Major League Soccer All-Star Game, the league announced on Saturday. This decision comes after Messi represented Argentina in the recent World Cup final. Typically, participation in the All-Star Game is mandatory, but exceptions are made for injuries. This year, due to the World Cup occurring in the middle of the MLS season, the league had pre-arranged exceptions for players reaching the final stages of the international tournament.
The MLS confirmed that prior to the start of the 2026 season, an agreement was made between Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association. This agreement stated that clubs would have individual conversations with each player to determine the appropriate rest and return to training and competition timeline upon their exit from the World Cup. Consistent with this agreement, both Messi and fellow Argentine Rodrigo De Paul, who also featured in the World Cup final, will be excused from the All-Star Game.
Last year, Messi faced a one-game suspension for skipping the All-Star Game at the last minute. MLS commissioner Don Garber sympathized with Messi's grueling schedule at the time, indicating that the league's All-Star Game policy would be reviewed. Inter Miami's co-owner Jorge Mas revealed that Messi was "very upset" by the suspension.
This year's All-Star Game, set to take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday, will feature several stars in Messi's absence, including Los Angeles FC's Son Heung-min, the Vancouver Whitecaps' Thomas Muller, and US national team captain Tim Ream, who plays for Charlotte.
The decision to exempt Messi and De Paul highlights the league's consideration for players who have undergone the physical and mental strain of competing in the World Cup, especially during the middle of the MLS season.
