On July 23, 2025, the Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game took place at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, pitting the league’s top talents against a formidable Liga MX All-Star squad. The event, a marquee showcase for MLS, was notably missing two of its biggest stars: Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba. Both players, voted onto the All-Star roster by fans and media, did not participate, sparking widespread debate and raising the specter of a one-game suspension under MLS rules. This article delves into the timeline, context, and implications of this high-profile controversy, exploring the tension between player welfare, league policies, and the commercial demands of a star-driven spectacle.
Background: The MLS All-Star Game and Its Rules
The MLS All-Star Game is an annual exhibition match designed to celebrate the league’s talent and boost its global visibility. Players are selected through a combination of fan, media, and player votes, with the expectation that those chosen will participate unless excused for a legitimate medical reason, such as a documented injury. The league’s policy is clear: failure to attend without an approved exemption results in a one-game suspension for the player’s next MLS match. This rule was famously enforced in 2018 when LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimović was suspended after skipping the All-Star Game, a decision he publicly criticized as “ridiculous.”
In 2025, the MLS All-Star Game carried added significance, as it featured a high-profile matchup against Liga MX All-Stars, led by Monterrey’s Sergio Ramos. The absence of Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all time and the reigning MLS MVP, was a significant blow to the event’s prestige, especially given his transformative impact on the league since joining Inter Miami in 2023.
Inter Miami’s 2025 Campaign
To understand the context of Messi and Alba’s absence, one must consider Inter Miami’s punishing schedule in 2025. The club played 34 matches across multiple competitions, including the MLS regular season, the Concacaf Champions Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Lionel Messi, at 38 years old, logged an astonishing 2,481 minutes in 29 appearances, starting 26 full 90-minute games. His teammate Jordi Alba, a 36-year-old former Barcelona stalwart, was equally integral, regularly starting and contributing key moments, such as his goal in a 5-1 rout of the New York Red Bulls on July 19, 2025.
Unlike most MLS teams, which benefited from a 10-day break during the season, Inter Miami’s commitments left no such respite. The team’s participation in the Club World Cup, where they were eliminated by PSG in the Round of 16, added four intense matches to an already packed calendar. Messi played every minute of Inter Miami’s last 19 games, a workload that raised concerns about fatigue and long-term fitness. This context set the stage for the decisions that would spark the All-Star controversy.
The Lead-Up: Early Signs of Absence
July 16, 2025: A Costly Defeat
The seeds of the controversy were sown weeks before the All-Star Game. On July 16, Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 loss to FC Cincinnati, the Eastern Conference leaders, at TQL Stadium. The defeat underscored the importance of the upcoming rematch on July 26, 2025, at Chase Stadium, where Inter Miami, sitting fifth in the standings, would aim to close a seven-point gap. The match’s significance—both for playoff positioning and its national broadcast on FS1—made the prospect of missing key players like Messi and Alba particularly concerning.
July 19, 2025: Mascherano’s Public Plea
Following a 5-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on July 19, Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano made headlines by openly advocating for rest for Messi and Alba. In a press conference, he stated, “The players are called up, I would like them to be able to rest but that is not my decision. I know how important the All-Star Game is, and as far as I know there is no decision from the club, everything is as normal.” Mascherano’s comments highlighted a growing tension between the club’s priorities—protecting its star players—and the league’s expectations for All-Star participation.
In the Red Bulls match, Messi scored twice and provided two assists, while Alba opened the scoring before being substituted in the 85th minute. According to an unverfied post by an X user @messifan1617 later speculated that Alba’s substitution was due to a minor injury, though no official confirmation emerged. Both players appeared fit, fueling expectations that they would travel to Austin for the All-Star events.
July 21–22, 2025: Doubts Emerge
By July 21, speculation began to swirl as Messi and Alba were absent from the MLS All-Star team’s initial training session in Austin. On July 22, Alba was officially withdrawn from the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, a precursor event to the main game, with no reason provided by MLS or Inter Miami. MLS All-Star coach Nico Estévez, also the Austin FC manager, addressed the uncertainty in a press conference, saying, “Leo is more a question for the league, for his club. I simply coach and direct the players that they give me.” He expressed hope that Messi would participate, citing the allure of featuring “the best player in history.”
X posts amplified the growing concern. User @aaw_1998 highlighted the MLS rule mandating suspensions for All-Star absences, while World Soccer Talk reported that Messi’s participation was in “serious doubt,” noting the potential consequences for Inter Miami’s upcoming match against FC Cincinnati.
The All-Star Game
July 23, 2025: Official Confirmation
On the morning of July 23, MLS released an updated gameday roster for the All-Star Game, confirming that neither Messi nor Alba would participate. Inter Miami had informed the league that the players would not travel to Austin, but no official reason—such as a medical exemption—was provided at the time.
The absence of Messi, the league’s biggest draw, and Alba, a key contributor, cast a shadow over the event, which featured stars like San Diego FC’s Hirving Lozano and LAFC’s Denis Bouanga facing off against Liga MX’s Sergio Ramos-led squad.
In a pre-game press conference, MLS Commissioner Don Garber addressed the controversy, expressing disappointment: “We would have loved to have Leo here. We’d love to have every player that was selected for the All-Star team here.”
He noted that Inter Miami had communicated that neither player practiced that day, and he referenced a possible injury for Alba from the Red Bulls game, though details remained vague. Garber emphasized that the league was “managing through that process” and would not immediately confirm suspensions, as the next steps depended on discussions with Inter Miami. He also admitted that the league should have been notified earlier about the absences, pointing to a communication breakdown.
As of July 24, 2025, MLS has not announced a final decision on whether Messi and Alba will face suspensions for the July 26 match against FC Cincinnati. The league is in discussions with Inter Miami to determine if a valid medical reason applies. Speculation centers on two potential justifications: a minor injury for Alba, possibly from the Red Bulls game, and the need for rest for both players due to their heavy workload. Messi’s 2,481 minutes in 29 games and Alba’s consistent starts provide a compelling case for fatigue, though MLS rules require a documented medical excuse to avoid penalties.
The potential suspension carries significant implications. The July 26 match against FC Cincinnati is a pivotal moment for Inter Miami, who are chasing a higher playoff seed. A previous 3-0 loss to Cincinnati on July 16 underscores the challenge, and the absence of Messi and Alba could tilt the scales further. The game’s national broadcast on FS1 also amplifies the stakes, as MLS risks losing viewership without its biggest star.
This is not the first time MLS has faced an All-Star absence controversy. In 2018, Zlatan Ibrahimović skipped the All-Star Game and was promptly suspended for one match, a decision he criticized harshly. The precedent suggests that MLS is likely to enforce its rules unless Inter Miami provides a compelling medical exemption. However, Messi’s status as a global icon and the league’s leading figure complicates the decision, as a suspension could alienate fans and sponsors.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
The resolution hinges on MLS’s interpretation of Inter Miami’s explanation for the absences. If the club can substantiate a medical reason—such as an injury for Alba or a fatigue-related exemption for Messi—the players may avoid suspension. If not, they will likely miss the July 26 match, dealing a blow to Inter Miami’s playoff aspirations and MLS’s visibility. A decision is expected before the weekend, with the league balancing its rulebook against the commercial realities of a Messi-less broadcast.
Conclusion
The growing pains of a league navigating its ambitions to compete on a global stage. Messi’s arrival in 2023 elevated MLS’s profile, but it also exposed the challenges of managing a superstar whose workload and fame transcend traditional league structures. As MLS weighs its decision, the outcome will set a precedent for how it handles its biggest stars in an era of increasing demands. For now, fans and analysts alike await clarity, as the saga of Messi’s All-Star absence continues to unfold.
Disclaimer: This article includes publicly available information and media commentary. Player fitness and suspension status have not been officially confirmed at the time of writing