Messi to miss MLS All-Star game after World Cup heartbreak and FIFPro rest ruling

Lionel Messi will sit out the 2026 MLS All-Star match, just days after Argentina’s dramatic extra-time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final, as he follows players’ union guidance on mandatory rest.

The 39-year-old Inter Miami captain, who played every game in Argentina’s run to the final, is not expected to feature in the showcase fixture on 29 July in Charlotte, according to ESPN. The match at Bank of America Stadium pits leading players from Major League Soccer against stars from Mexico’s Liga MX.

Messi had been named in the MLS All-Star squad alongside Inter Miami and Argentina team-mate Rodrigo De Paul, but intends to skip the event for a second consecutive year.

World champions dethroned

Argentina saw their title defence end in heartbreak on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Spain in extra time in the 2026 World Cup final. The defeat ended hopes of back‐to‐back triumphs after their victory at Qatar 2022.

While many of Messi’s international colleagues have now begun their off-season following the end of the European club calendar, the forward remains in the middle of the MLS campaign with Inter Miami.

However, his return to domestic action will not be immediate, with club and player prioritising recovery after a gruelling international tournament.

FIFPro rest guidelines shape decision

Messi’s expected absence from the All-Star game comes in line with recommendations from FIFPro, the international players’ union, which advises that footballers should be given a minimum of 21 consecutive days of rest at the end of a season.

Although the MLS season is ongoing, Messi’s continuous involvement with Argentina through to the World Cup final has left him effectively without a proper break.

Reports in the United States say he is certain to miss Inter Miami’s next two fixtures – against Chicago Fire and CF Montreal – and is unlikely to return before the All-Star showcase, increasing the likelihood that he will be absent from that match as well.

Ban unlikely despite All-Star no-show

Messi was sanctioned by MLS last season after failing to appear in the All-Star game without the league’s prior approval. A repeat punishment is thought to be improbable on this occasion, given the “exceptional circumstances” and the short gap between the World Cup final and the exhibition encounter.

The league and club are understood to be sympathetic to the need for recovery, particularly for a player of Messi’s age and workload, amid a broader debate about fixture congestion and player welfare at the elite level.

No timetable for Messi return

Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos told reporters on Tuesday that there is no fixed date yet for the Argentinian star’s comeback to training or competitive matches.

من جانبه، قال جييرمو هويوس، مدرب انتر ميامي، في تصريحات للصحفيين امس الثلاثاء، انه لا يوجد حتى الان موعد محدد لعودة النجم الارجنتيني الى التدريبات والمباريات.

Until his return is confirmed, Inter Miami will have to navigate a key phase of their MLS season without their marquee player, while fans in Charlotte and across North America will miss out on seeing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in this year’s All-Star spectacle.