After his World Cup efforts... Messi not obligated to participate in the All-Star match

Major League Soccer (MLS) announced on Saturday that Argentine star Lionel Messi will not be required to participate in next week’s All-Star Game, following his representation of his national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Inter Miami forward was penalized last year for missing the annual exhibition match featuring the league’s top players against stars from Liga MX.

However, the World Cup was held in the middle of the MLS season, which paused for seven weeks, and the league confirmed that exceptions had previously been approved for players who reached the final stages of the global tournament.

According to a league statement, “Before the start of the 2026 season, MLS and the Players’ Association agreed that after a player is eliminated from World Cup competition, clubs would hold individual discussions with each player to determine an appropriate rest period and schedule for returning to training and matches.”

The statement added, “In accordance with this agreement, Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi will be excused from participating in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game.”

De Paul also played in last Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey, where Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.

Messi was among the first 11 players selected for this year’s MLS All-Star roster, scheduled for Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Last year, Messi and his then-Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were each suspended for one match for withdrawing from the All-Star Game at the last minute.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber had expressed understanding of Messi’s congested schedule at the time, calling the decision “very difficult” and noting that the long-standing policy regarding the exhibition game would be reviewed.

Nevertheless, Jorge Mas, the billionaire co-owner of Inter Miami, said Messi was “very upset” about the suspension.