Messi to Miss MLS All-Star Game After World Cup, League Grants Exemption

Lionel Messi has been excused from participating in the 2026 Major League Soccer All-Star Game after helping Argentina reach the FIFA World Cup final, MLS announced on Saturday.

Unlike last season, when the Inter Miami forward was suspended for missing the All-Star fixture, the league said players involved in the closing stages of the World Cup had been granted exemptions under an agreement reached before the season began.

According to MLS:

“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.”

The league confirmed that both Messi and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul would not take part in Wednesday’s All-Star Game.

“Consistent with that agreement, Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi will be excused from participating in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game.”

Argentina finished runners-up in the World Cup after losing 1-0 to Spain following extra time in last Sunday’s final in New Jersey.

Messi had originally been selected among the first group of players named for the MLS All-Star squad, which will face Liga MX stars in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In his absence, the showcase will include Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, Thomas Müller of the Vancouver Whitecaps and Charlotte’s Tim Ream, captain of the United States national team.

Messi and Jordi Alba were both handed one-match suspensions in 2025 after failing to appear in the All-Star Game without prior approval.

Following that incident, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said the decision had been “very difficult” given Messi’s demanding schedule and indicated the league would reconsider its long-standing policy on All-Star participation.

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas later revealed that Messi was “very upset” by the suspension.

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