Messi's All-Star Absence: Inter Miami's Gamble and MLS Backlash
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Messi's All-Star Absence: Inter Miami's Gamble and MLS Backlash
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Lionel Messi has been at the center of a storm in Major League Soccer this week after his unexpected removal from the MLS All-Star Game roster just seven hours before kickoff, in what Sports Illustrated describes as a major blow to fan interest and league reputation. The initial announcement included Messi alongside Jordi Alba, but both were ultimately excluded on the day of the event, fueling speculation after neither appeared at training or the All-Star Skills Challenge. According to Inter Miami, the decision to skip the showcase was made by the club rather than the players, citing their congested calendar—Messi has played nine games in the last 36 days—and a focus on player health. Nevertheless, MLS invoked its policy that any All-Star no-show without league approval would be suspended for the next match, making Messi and Alba ineligible for the highly anticipated league fixture against FC Cincinnati this weekend. As Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas revealed to Marca and Metro, Messi is “extremely upset” with the decision, viewing the punishment as draconian while the club stands firmly behind its stars.
This development lands at a delicate moment with Messi’s contract up in December 2025, creating significant uncertainty for Inter Miami and MLS overall. Goal.com underscores the league’s dilemma—Messi has galvanized record crowds, global attention, and Apple TV subscriptions, but trust could fray if stars are penalized for prioritizing recovery and club form over All-Star exhibition obligations.
There has been no shortage of social media buzz. Messi’s absence spurred widespread fan commentary, especially after Instagram posts highlighted he now follows only seven football clubs—fueling fresh rumors about his future—while a viral lookalike set fans abuzz this week, though these are mostly sideshows tangential to Messi’s official activities. On field, he missed all All-Star related activities and will sit out the next regular season game per MLS policy, despite an unverified claim circulating on Threads that he would play as usual against Cincinnati. That claim directly conflicts with official league announcements.
For the business side, Messi also made headlines launching his “1v1 World Crown” football tournament, a signature global event marking the debut of his Más+ by Messi brand, further cementing his influence beyond North America and into the global sports business landscape.
No major headlines have reported a new contract agreement or a transfer, so as of now, Messi’s immediate future in Miami and MLS remains tightly linked to league leadership and evolving policy. The ongoing All-Star controversy stands out as the most significant Messi development this week for both fans and the MLS brand.
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