Lionel Messi's Shocking Absence from 2025 MLS All-Star Game Explained

The 2025 MLS All-Star squad will face Liga MX's finest at Q2 Stadium without the presence of Lionel Messi.

MLS has confirmed to Sports Illustrated that both Messi and his Inter Miami colleague Jordi Alba have been removed from the MLS All-Star lineup. The two star players, who were initially selected for the 26-man roster last month, will be absent from this year's showdown against the Liga MX All-Stars.

This development follows Messi and Alba's failure to attend the team's practice sessions earlier this week. They were also notably absent from the All-Star Skills Challenge on Tuesday evening.

While neither MLS nor Inter Miami have provided explanations for the players' non-attendance, it appears connected to worries about the Herons' packed fixture list. Javier Mascherano's squad began the season with a five-match pre-season tour throughout the Americas and has subsequently competed in 33 matches across various tournaments, with additional months of competition ahead.

Before the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, Mascherano expressed his opposition to the extra fixture in what is already a demanding schedule for his two stars: "The players receive call-ups, I wish they could have rest but that decision isn't mine to make."

Messi has already been sidelined earlier this season due to physical condition issues and has still managed 29 appearances across all tournaments. The 38-year-old currently tops the MLS Golden Boot standings with 18 league strikes in the same number of matches.

The absence of Messi and Alba represents a significant setback for the MLS All-Stars, and Inter Miami could potentially lose their former Barcelona legends as well. Both players face possible league suspension for skipping the MLS All-Star Game without official injury documentation.