Messi and Alba Face Suspension After Skipping MLS All-Star Game

Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will not participate in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday, despite being selected for the event. Both Inter Miami players are now in line to face a suspension for their club’s next match due to their absence.

Messi and Alba were not present for the All-Star events taking place this week in Austin, Texas, culminating in a friendly match against a select squad from Mexico’s Liga MX on Wednesday evening. Alba had originally planned to compete in the All-Star skills challenge on Tuesday but was withdrawn without any given explanation. MLS has yet to publicly comment on the reasons for the absences of both players.

The MLS All-Star Game, established in 1996, has evolved through various formats over the years. Initially featuring an East vs. West setup similar to other US leagues, it has also included single MLS All-Star teams facing renowned international clubs like Tottenham, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus. Recently, however, the game has primarily matched an MLS squad against Liga MX’s team.

This event holds significant importance for MLS executives and many front offices, serving as one of the few occasions where representatives from all clubs can gather since the SuperDraft transitioned to a virtual format and the MLS Cup stopped being held at a neutral venue. The league’s rules encourage player participation, stipulating that unless injured, players must take part in the All-Star game or be suspended from their club’s next match.

This year, the All-Star Game comes during a particularly busy schedule for the league. Inter Miami faced elimination against PSG in the round of 16 of the Club World Cup, after already playing five matches in July. The annual Leagues Cup is set to kick off next week, featuring competitions between Liga MX clubs and their MLS counterparts. League play will resume on Friday, just two days after the All-Star game.

The absence of Messi and Alba in their upcoming match against FC Cincinnati, currently leading the Eastern Conference, will be significant. Miami suffered a 3-0 defeat to Cincinnati in their last encounter.And the next Wednesday, Miami will play Atlas in the Leagues Cup.

The predicament involving Messi and Alba is not without precedent. Zlatan Ibrahimović faced a one-game suspension in 2018 for skipping that year’s All-Star event, describing the league’s decision as “ridiculous” in follow-up comments.

“They do whatever they want. I come from a different world, I come from the real world,” Ibrahimović remarked. “It is what it is. I respect it in the end, and I’m only sorry for my teammates that I couldn’t help them in the game … But yeah, people are interested in different things. They lose on it, and for me, it doesn’t matter.”