Lionel Messi and Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul will be excused from the 2026 MLS All-Star Game as MLS enforces post-World Cup recovery protocols and FIFPRO rest guidance, prioritizing player welfare over spectacle. Their absence robs the July 29 showcase of two marquee names and spotlights the league’s evolving approach to managing international workloads and star availability.
Messi, De Paul formally excused from MLS All-Star Game
Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will not participate in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game as Inter Miami and MLS honor post-World Cup recovery timelines.
The league confirmed both players were excused under the return-to-play agreement that gives teams discretion to manage rest after international tournaments.
Why they’re missing: rest and return-to-play protocols
MLS codified player-specific conversations and timelines for post-World Cup return to training ahead of the 2026 season. That framework mirrors FIFPRO’s widely observed 21-day rest recommendation, giving clubs latitude to prioritize player health after intense international duty.
Context on Messi’s season and the decision
Messi has been the defining figure for Inter Miami, producing 12 goals and seven assists in 14 appearances this campaign. He returned to Argentina after the World Cup final and is taking time with family, a choice the club and league are treating as legitimate recovery rather than a disciplinary or contractual issue.
League stance and coach reaction
MLS issued a statement confirming neither player will face punishment, reinforcing that the league’s recent policy gives clubs and players input on rest. Inter Miami coach Guillermo Hoyas indicated Messi and De Paul can take “as much time as they need,” signaling a club-first approach to preserving form for the second half of the season.
Implications for the All-Star spectacle
Losing Messi and De Paul strips the All-Star Game of two headline stars, a blow to the showcase’s marquee appeal. Yet it also underscores MLS’s increasingly modern stance on load management and player welfare. The trade-off is clear: short-term ticket-sell and marketing value versus long-term investment in player availability for league and club campaigns.
Other absences and roster adjustments
Several other players will miss the All-Star Game due to injury or recent transfers, including Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi (thigh), forward Hugo Cuyper (transfer to Monterrey), and likely Vancouver’s Sebastian Berhalter after his move to Middlesbrough.
All-Star Game logistics
The MLS All-Star Game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 29 at Bank of America Stadium, home of Charlotte FC. The event follows the MLS Skills Challenge on Tuesday night, where Thomas Muller topped the shooting challenge, narrowly beating Evander of FC Cincinnati.
Full MLS All-Star roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (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: Pep Biel (Charlotte FC), Yannick Bright (Inter Miami), Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC)
Forwards: Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Heung-Min Son (LAFC), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire)
What to watch next
Expect scrutiny on how MLS balances commercial events with player welfare going forward. For Inter Miami, the priority will be returning Messi and De Paul to peak condition for club competition; for the league, maintaining credibility with international stars while protecting marquee moments will be a recurring challenge.
Bottom line
MLS has chosen player health over immediate spectacle.
Real Madrid insist Mastantuono stay in Europe, Fiorentina emerge as frontrunners for his loan
Fans may be disappointed in the short term, but the decision reflects a broader shift toward responsible load management that could preserve the league’s biggest assets for the moments that matter most.
The Mirror Us
