A 12 months after being suspended a sport for skipping MLS’s All-Star Game, Lionel Messi is lacking out once more — but this time his absence is excused.
Messi is one among 4 gamers who MLS changed on Saturday, with Golden Boot chief Hugo Cuypers (transferred to Monterrey), Rodrigo De Paul and Mbekezeli Mbokazi additionally now not on MLS’s squad that can face a gaggle of Liga MX All-Stars at Charlotte FC’s Bank of America Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andrés Cubas, Houston Dynamo ahead Guilherme and Chicago Fire ahead Philip Zinckernagel are their replacements.
It’s actually doable a fifth alternative is required with Vancouver’s Sebastian Berhalter — additionally coming off the World Cup — set for a switch to Middlesbrough, as reported by The Athletic this week.
For international starpower, MLS will lean on Son Heung-min and Thomas Müller, whereas U.S. World Cup gamers Matt Freese, Tim Ream, Max Arfsten and — as of now — Berhalter are additionally on the squad. Croatian World Cup striker Petar Musa and rising U.S. skills Julian Hall and Zavier Gozo additionally headline the group, which will probably be with out the league’s greatest draw.
Messi was central to an All-Star controversy last summer. Per MLS guidelines, any participant who skips the All-Star Game with out an damage is topic to a one-game suspension. Messi and Jordi Alba, who had been a part of Miami’s whirlwind summer time that included a run on the FIFA Club World Cup, didn’t attend the festivities in Austin and were promptly suspended in a choice that Miami proprietor Jorge Mas decried as “draconian.”
The World Cup has added a complicating issue this 12 months, significantly for gamers who launched into a run to the top of the match. That applies to Messi and De Paul, who reached the ultimate with Argentina on July 19. Therefore, it’s little shock that they’re due time to relaxation and get well earlier than returning to motion for his or her membership. Both gamers missed Miami’s midweek win over the Chicago Fire and won’t characteristic Saturday evening at CF Montréal both.
“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,” the league wrote in an announcement.
MLS, for the fifth time in six years, will face a gaggle of stars from Mexico’s high flight. Five of Liga MX’s stars featured for Mexico on the World Cup: Gilberto Mora, Erik Lira, Jesús Gallardo, Armando González and former U.S. worldwide Brian Gutiérrez. Another former U.S. worldwide who now represents Mexico, Richy Ledezma, may even play for Liga MX, together with Costa Rican goalkeeping nice Keylor Navas.
MLS’s up to date All-Star squad after Saturday’s modifications is now:
GOALKEEPERS: Maxime Crépeau (Orlando City), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC)
MIDFIELDERS: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Pep Biel (Charlotte FC), Yannick Bright (Inter Miami), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Thomas Müller (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC)
FORWARDS: Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire)
