Lionel Messi received’t be on the 2026 MLS All-Star recreation, because the 39-year-old soccer legend has opted to skip the showcase match for the third-straight season. Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul has additionally been faraway from the roster after each represented Argentina on the highway to the 2026 World World Cup ultimate final week.
Four roster replacements had been named Saturday, as Hugo Cuypers and Mbekezeli Mbokazi can even be absent. Cuypers, who was the MLS Golden Boot co-leader earlier within the season, is not part of the league after Chicago Fire bought him to Liga MX’s CF Monterrey following the introduction of star ahead Robert Lewandowski. Mbokazi is recovering from a decrease physique harm. U.S. men’s national team midfielder Sebastian Berhalter can even possible be out of the combo, given that he’s heavily linked with an impending transfer to English Championship facet Middlesbrough from Vancouver Whitecaps.
MLS revealed the 4 official adjustments lower than per week earlier than Wednesday’s scheduled conflict towards the Liga MX All-Stars in Charlotte. While Cuypers will miss the match as a consequence of switch, Messi, De Paul and Mbokazi’s absences are as a consequence of World Cup fatigue and restoration.
Last season, Messi and teammate Jordi Alba formally pulled out of the 2025 MLS All-Star game on the day of the match, and MLS stepped in to droop each of them for one match, as they didn’t have a documented harm. Messi missed the showpiece occasion in 2024 after sustaining an ankle harm within the Copa América ultimate earlier within the month.
Messi and De Paul won’t face any punishments for lacking the All-Star recreation as a result of fast turnaround from the World Cup. “Prior to the start of the 2026 season, Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association agreed that upon a player’s exit from the World Cup competition, clubs would have individual conversations with each player to determine the appropriate rest and return to training and competition timeline. Consistent with that agreement, Rodrigo De Paul and Lionel Messi will be excused from participating in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game,” MLS wrote in its announcement.
Who Are the MLS All-Star Roster Replacements?
With Messi and De Paul unavailable, MLS has tipped fellow Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright as one of many 4 replacements, bringing in a central piece to the Herons’ roster and one of many prime picks from the 2024 MLS SuperDraft.
This season, Bright has two assists in 12 video games and has stepped as much as fill the midfield void left by Sergio Busquets’s retirement after the 2025 season. Before the 2026 marketing campaign, he additionally earned himself a contract extension with the Herons by means of 2028 with an choice for a further season.
Another Whitecaps midfielder, Andrés Cubas, can be now a part of the squad, after starring in Paraguay’s run to the World Cup spherical of 16 towards France, which included an upset of Germany in the round of 32. Cubas led all gamers in defensive contributions on the event, amassing 52 in Paraguay’s midfield, forward of England’s Elliot Anderson (47) and Spain’s Rodri, who had 42 within the run to title victory and the Golden Ball.
Chicago additionally get a brand new face within the festivities, with ahead Philip Zinckernagel named to the staff instead of Cuypers with 5 targets and 7 assists in 15 matches this season. Meanwhile, Houston Dynamo FC ahead Guilherme comes into the combo as properly, at the moment a favourite within the race for the 2026 MLS Newcomer of the Year Award.
Final 2026 MLS All-Star Game Roster
Goalkeepers
- Maxime Crépeau—Orlando City (Coach’s Selection)
- Matt Freese—New York City FC (Coach’s Selection)
- Brian Schwake—Nashville SC (Voted In)
Defenders
- Max Arfsten—Columbus Crew (Coach’s Selection)
- Lucas Herrington—Colorado Rapids (Coach’s Selection)
- Richie Laryea—Toronto FC (Commissioner’s Pick)
- Anthony Markanich—Minnesota United (Voted In)
- Steven Moreira—Columbus Crew (Coach’s Selection)
- Daniel Munie—San Jose Earthquakes (Coach’s Selection)
- Andy Najar—Nashville SC (Voted In)
- Jackson Ragen—Seattle Sounders (Coach’s Selection)
- Tim Ream—Charlotte FC (Voted In)
Midfielders
- Sebastian Berhalter—Vancouver Whitecaps (Coach’s Selection)
- Pep Biel—Charlotte FC (Coach’s Selection)
- Yannick Bright—Inter Miami CF (Coach’s Selection)
- Andrés Cubas—Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Coach’s Selection)
- Evander—FC Cincinnati (Coach’s Selection)
- Carles Gil—New England Revolution (Coach’s Selection)
- Zavier Gozo—Real Salt Lake (Coach’s Selection)
- Hany Mukhtar—Nashville SC (Coach’s Selection)
- Thomas Müller—Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Coach’s Selection)
- Ashley Westwood—Charlotte FC (Coach’s Selection)
Forwards
- Anders Dreyer—San Diego FC (Coach’s Selection)
- Guilherme—Houston Dynamo FC | (Coach’s Selection)
- Julian Hall—Red Bull New York (Commissioner’s Pick)
- Son Heung-Min—LAFC (Voted In)
- Petar Musa—FC Dallas (Coach’s Selection)
- Sam Surridge—Nashville SC (Coach’s Selection)
- Philip Zinckernagel—Chicago Fire (Coach’s Selection)
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