Messi excused from All-Star duties
Lionel Messi will not participate in the MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, marking his third consecutive year missing the event. The decision stems from an agreement between Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association regarding player welfare following the 2026 World Cup. This agreement specifies that clubs should hold individual discussions with players returning from the World Cup to determine appropriate rest periods and timelines for their return to training and competition.
Messi, along with Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, featured prominently in the 2026 World Cup, reaching the final with Argentina. Both players are therefore covered by specific player welfare protections established by FIFPro, the global players’ union. The league confirmed on Saturday that both Messi and De Paul would be excused from the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, which will see the MLS All-Stars face the Liga MX All-Stars.
The league’s statement clarified, “Prior to the start of the 2026 season, Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association agreed that upon a player’s exit from the World Cup competition, clubs would have individual conversations with each player to determine the appropriate rest and return to training and competition timeline. Consistent with that agreement, Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi will be excused from participating in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game.”
Contrast to previous All-Star Game
This year’s leniency contrasts with the situation surrounding the 2025 All-Star Game in Austin. During that event, Messi and former Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba withdrew shortly before the match. As they were not officially sidelined by injury at the time, the league’s standard disciplinary protocols were activated. MLS regulations stipulate that any player selected for the All-Star Game who does not appear without a medical excuse faces an automatic one-game suspension for their club’s subsequent competitive fixture.
The league’s decision in 2025 drew criticism from Inter Miami ownership. Managing owner Jorge Mas described the mandatory participation rule as “draconian,” arguing that the club’s players were already being pushed to their physical limits. However, the unique circumstances of the 2026 World Cup participation for Messi and De Paul have led to a different outcome this year.
Despite Messi’s absence, the MLS All-Star squad still includes international talent. Nine players who participated in the 2026 World Cup remain on the roster. Unlike Messi and De Paul, these players did not reach the final stages of the tournament, meaning they are not subject to the same mandatory rest period. These players are expected to take part in both the technical Skills Challenge on Tuesday and the main match on Wednesday night.
Replacements and return for Inter Miami
With Messi and De Paul unavailable, MLS has named four replacement players to the All-Star roster. These include Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andrés Cubas, Houston Dynamo forward Guilherme, and Chicago Fire midfielder Philip Zinckernagel. They replace De Paul, Messi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Hugo Cuypers. Mbokazi is ruled out due to a lower body injury, having also appeared at the World Cup for South Africa, while Cuypers moved to CF Monterrey from the Chicago Fire.
Guilherme has recorded eight goals and five assists in his first season with the Dynamo, and Zinckernagel has five goals and seven assists so far in 2026. While Messi has avoided a formal league suspension, Inter Miami fans will need to wait several weeks for his return. The 21-day rest period means he is currently undergoing physical and mental recovery following Argentina’s World Cup final defeat. Current projections indicate that Messi and De Paul will not be available for selection for Inter Miami until early August, causing them to miss several key MLS fixtures.
Messi’s individual performance at the 2026 World Cup saw him claim the Silver Boot and Silver Ball after scoring eight goals during Argentina’s run to the final. The MLS All-Stars are scheduled to play the Liga MX All-Stars in Charlotte on Wednesday.
Source: goal.com
