Messi Misses All-Star
Messi and De Paul to Miss MLS All-Star Game After World Cup Rest Agreement
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Key Points
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Last year, Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were suspended for one game for skipping the MLS All-Star Game, highlighting that non-participation has previously carried disciplinary consequences.
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Four replacements were added to the All-Star roster: Yannick Bright (Inter Miami), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), and Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire), filling spots left by De Paul, Messi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Hugo Cuypers.
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MLS commissioner Don Garber described the decision to excuse Messi and De Paul as a 'very difficult decision' and noted the league’s policy would be reviewed, signaling ongoing tensions around scheduling and player rest.
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Despite their absences, the All-Star roster is still anchored by top names, including Son Heung-min, Thomas Müller, and Tim Ream, ensuring high-profile competition for the Charlotte showcase.
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The exemptions are part of a pre-season agreement between MLS and the MLS Players Association: after players exit the World Cup, clubs will hold individual conversations to determine the appropriate rest and return-to-play timeline.
Lionel Messi will not play in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game, the league confirmed. MLS cleared the Inter Miami star to skip the showcase after his deep run with Argentina in the World Cup, according to France 24. The game will be held in Charlotte against Liga MX.
Rodrigo De Paul will also sit out the All-Star Game. Both players are covered under a pre-arranged deal between MLS and the MLS Players Association, AS reported. The agreement lets World Cup participants rest and return to club training on an individual schedule.
Commissioner Calls Messi Exemption a 'Very Difficult Decision'
MLS commissioner Don Garber did not hide the tension. He called excusing Messi a 'very difficult decision' and said the league's policy would be reviewed, according to Flash Score. That signals ongoing friction between player rest needs and the league's showcase events.
This is Messi's third straight MLS All-Star miss. Last year, Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were both suspended one game for skipping the event. That punishment showed the league takes these absences seriously — making this year's formal exemption a notable shift in approach.
The Agreement Behind the Exemptions Explained
MLS and the Players Association struck the deal before the World Cup began. Under it, once a player exits the tournament, his club holds individual talks to set a rest and return-to-play timeline, Free Malaysia Today reported. No blanket rule applies — each player's situation is handled separately.
The World Cup ran during a seven-week MLS break, according to Flash Score. Players like Messi faced a grueling run of matches deep into the tournament. The league said that level of physical demand is exactly what the exemption policy was built for.
Four Replacements Named to Fill the All-Star Roster
MLS moved quickly to fill the gaps. Four players were added to the All-Star roster: Yannick Bright from Inter Miami, Andrés Cubas from Vancouver Whitecaps, Guilherme from Houston Dynamo, and Philip Zinckernagel from Chicago Fire, AS confirmed. They replace Messi, De Paul, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, and Hugo Cuypers.
The updated roster still carries star power. Son Heung-min, Thomas Müller, and Tim Ream headline the lineup. The Charlotte showcase will go on with a high-profile field, even without Messi taking the pitch.
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