Messi to skip MLS all-star game in Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Fans in Austin hoping to see Major League Soccer’s highest-paid and most popular player for the league’s all-star game Wednesday will be disappointed.

Lionel Messi, along with his Inter Miami CF teammate Jordi Alba, will not play for the MLS all-stars when they meet the Liga MX squad at 8 p.m. CDT in Q2 Stadium. Representatives from Miami informed the league about the decision Wednesday. Neither player is listed as injured, and unless they receive a special exemption from the league to miss the all-star game, they’ll be suspended for one regular season game, making them unavailable for an Eastern Conference showdown with league-leading FC Cincinnati on Saturday. It’s unclear whether or not the league will grant a special exemption.

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Messi has been voted into the league’s all-star game every season since he joined Miami in 2023, but he’s never played in the game. He didn’t play in last season’s game due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for Argentina in the Copa America tournament.

Miami’s schedule has been congested lately, following its appearance in the knockout stage of the FIFA Club World Cup in June, which may be a contributing factor to Messi and Alba’s decision to rest rather than participate in the league’s midseason showcase. In his last five MLS matches, Messi has scored eight goals with three assists.

MLS commissioner Don Garber defended Messi’s decision, but in the same breath, said, “we do have rules.”

“We have to manage through that as a league,” Garber said. “We would have loved to have Leo here, and every player that was selected here, and after the game, we’ll figure out what has to happen this weekend.”

Garber said that Messi has played in nine games over the past 35 days between the Club World Cup and MLS schedules, playing all 90 minutes in each. Part of his response to the question was that Miami, “had a schedule unlike any other team,” which simply isn’t true. LAFC and Seattle also played in the Club World Cup and had MLS games leading up to the all-star game.

Denis Bouanga of LAFC and Obed Vargas of Seattle are slated to play in the all-star game, and they have played a similar number of minutes.

Miami is also scheduled to compete in Leagues Cup with its first match against Liga MX side Atlas on July 30.

FC Cincinnati forward Evander will serve as captain for the MLS all-stars. Austin FC defender Guilherme Biro was a late addition to the MLS squad, joining goalkeeper Brad Stuver and head coach Nico Estevez as host team representatives.

Final MLS all-star roster vs. Liga MX all-stars

GOALKEEPERS (3)

• Dayne St. Clair – Minnesota United FC
• Brad Stuver – Austin FC
• Yohei Takaoka – Vancouver Whitecaps FC

DEFENDERS (9)

• Max Arfsten – Columbus Crew
• Guilherme Biro – Austin FC
• Tristan Blackmon – Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Michael Boxall – Minnesota United FC
• Alex Freeman – Orlando City SC
• Jakob Glesnes – Philadelphia Union
• Andy Najar – Nashville SC
• Miles Robinson – FC Cincinnati
• Kai Wagner – Philadelphia Union

MIDFIELDERS (9)

• Sebastian Berhalter – Vancouver Whitecaps FC
• Cristian Espinoza – San Jose Earthquakes
• Evander – FC Cincinnati (Captain)
• Carles Gil – New England Revolution
• Diego Luna – Real Salt Lake
• Hany Mukhtar – Nashville SC
• Jeppe Tverskov – San Diego FC
• Obed Vargas – Seattle Sounders FC
• Philip Zinckernagel – Chicago Fire FC

FORWARDS (8)

• Tai Baribo – Philadelphia Union
• Denis Bouanga – LAFC
• Anders Dreyer – San Diego FC
• Chucky Lozano – San Diego FC
• Marco Pašalić – Orlando City SC
• Diego Rossi – Columbus Crew
• Sam Surridge – Nashville SC
• Brian White – Vancouver Whitecaps FC