Messi could face significant sanction for MLS mishap

It was a tough blow for MLS ahead of the 2025 All-Star Game, which was held last night at Q2 Stadium in Austin. The league’s biggest star, Lionel Messi, was absent from the All-Star team coached by Nico Estévez.

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that both Messi and Jordi Alba would miss the match against the Liga MX All-Stars — a development that sparked widespread discussion. Neither MLS nor Inter Miami issued an official statement addressing the situation.

However, AS learned that Messi’s absence was due to rest and recovery, as the Argentine had faced a heavy match load with Inter Miami in the weeks leading up to the event.

With the absence confirmed, attention turned to how MLS would respond. League rules allow for disciplinary action when selected All-Star players fail to participate without a valid reason. A decision regarding possible sanctions for Messi and Alba remains pending, subject to a case review.

If a sanction is upheld, both players would be required to miss Inter Miami’s next match — a clash with FC Cincinnati — which they are now expected to sit out.

MLS is currently evaluating the situation in coordination with Inter Miami, which is expected to argue that player fatigue and an overloaded schedule justified their absence.

Interestingly, Javier Mascherano had recently suggested that allowing his players time to rest would be ideal as they prepared for the Cincinnati match — a notion that appears to have played out.

“As far as I know, there’s nothing to say. The players have been called up. I would like them to be able to rest during the long week. I know how important the All-Star Game is in this country, and there’s been no decision with the club regarding it,” Mascherano said just days ago.