Messi, Alba skipped MLS All-Star Game Wednesday. Will they be punished? Here’s what we know
Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba did not participate in Wednesday night’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game, choosing to sit out for undisclosed reasons.
MLS was advised by Inter Miami Wednesday morning that neither player would participate in the game, which was set to be played at Q2 Stadium in Austin. The MLS All-Stars face off against a selection of Liga MX players in the league’s annual mid-season showcase.
Messi and Alba were not at any of the All-Star events this week as Inter Miami is currently preparing for a crucial match at home at Chase Stadium on Saturday night against FC Cincinnati.
MLS rules state that any All-Star player who skips the game without a valid excuse faces a one-game suspension. That could mean Messi and Alba would not be able to play in Saturday’s game.
There are only two ways around the rule: an official injury report or a league-granted exemption. It’s unclear if either player has been granted such an exemption and no such injury report has been released as of Wednesday afternoon.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber addressed Messi’s absence on a mid-season state of the league Zoom call with media members Wednesday night before the All-Star Game. He did not announce whether Messi or Alba will face repercussions for skipping the event, saying the league “is still managing” the process.
He noted the grueling schedule Inter Miami has played in recent months due to its participation in the Concacaf Champions Cup and the Club World Cup. Miami has played 10 more games than most other MLS teams. Messi has played 90 minutes in nine matches over 30 days.
“We have an All-Star Game that we think is a real priority; at the same time we have a player [Messi] who is playing nine matches in 30 days,” Garber said. “Miami has had a schedule that is unlike any other team. Most of our teams had a 10-day break. Miami hasn’t...So, we have to manage that as a league.
“At the same time, we do have rules, and we have to manage through that as well. So, we would have loved to have had Leo here, would have loved to have had every player that was selected here, and after this All-Star Game, we’ll figure out what needs to happen this weekend.”
Garber added that Inter Miami advised him Wednesday morning that neither Messi nor Alba practiced in the morning workout.
“Jordi came off with an injury in the last game, and we’ll have to manage through what Miami is going to say about that,” Garber said.
Asked why this situation wasn’t addressed earlier in the week, Garber said: “We should have known earlier, we should have addressed it earlier, no doubt about that.”
Inter Miami is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and just played through a stretch of nine matches across all competitions in a span of 36 days, capped by last Saturday’s 5-1 road victory against the New York Red Bulls.
Messi scored twice and had two assists in that game and Alba scored his first goal in league play. Alba was removed from the game in the 84th minute, however, with what appeared to be a leg issue. Messi played the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time and scored a brace for the sixth time in his past seven league matches.
His absence from the All-Star Game from a marketing standpoint is a big loss for the league.
But Inter Miami would welcome the rest time for their two veteran stars, as long as it wouldn’t jeopardize their availability in Saturday’s crucial matchup. Miami, which lost 3-0 to Cincinnati a week ago, can’t afford another defeat against the Eastern Conference leaders, who have 48 points - seven more than Miami’s 41 points.
A victory for Inter Miami would not only close the gap, but could avoid Cincinnati owning a tiebreaker and Miami still has three more games to play than the top four teams in the conference.
Since Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023, he has not participated in the All-Star Game.
“The players are called up, I would like them to be able to rest, but that is not my decision,” Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano said earlier this week. “I know how important the All-Star [Game] is.”
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM.
