Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi will not participate in this week’s MLS All-Star Game, Major League Soccer announced on Monday, just over a week after the Argentine superstar left the Copa America final with an ankle injury.Messi was listed among the unavailable players for Wednesday’s match in Columbus, Ohio, where MLS All-Stars from 18 league clubs will compete against top talent from Mexico’s LIGA MX.
This game would have marked the 37-year-old’s MLS All-Star Game debut following his move to Inter Miami in July 2023 after an illustrious career in Europe. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has had an impressive start with Inter Miami, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in his first 12 games of 2024, making him the quickest to achieve 25 goal contributions in an MLS season.
Messi was expected to feature in the annual match between an MLS XI and a Liga MX XI. However, he, along with fellow Inter Miami forward Luis Suarez, has been listed as unavailable on the MLS website. In contrast, their teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets are included in the lineup.
"Leo Messi will miss the All-Star Game due to an ankle injury, while Luis Suárez, who recently returned from international duty after over 40 days away from the club, will miss the All-Star Game due to knee discomfort," the club said, according to the Miami Herald's Michelle Kaufman. "Their availability for Saturday's League's Cup match will be assessed based on their daily recovery process."
It remains uncertain when Messi will return to action for Inter Miami. Club officials have not provided a timeline for his fitness and readiness to play. The club coach has indicated that Messi's injury is being evaluated weekly, and he will be cleared to play once he shows improvement. Given the current condition of the Argentine star, it may take more than a few weeks for him to fully recover.
The MLS roster includes notable players such as Hugo Lloris, Christian Benteke, and Federico Bernardeschi, while Andre-Pierre Gignac and Salomon Rondon will represent the Liga MX All-Stars.
