MLS
MLS All-Star Game: why is Messi not on the roster?
The MLS announced the players who will feature in the All-Star match against Arsenal, but the biggest name was missing.
On Tuesday we learned the list of players who were chosen to play in the MLS All-Star Game against Premier League runners up Arsenal. Following the recent Hollywood level news that Argentine star Lionel Messi was switching PSG for Inter Miami, fans were eager to see him in action. But his name was nowhere to be seen.
The list is also missing some other headline acts, including Carlos Vela, Josef Martínez, Lorenzo Insigne, Xherdan Shaqiri, Federico Bernardeschi, to mention a few. However, these omissions are due to the low level of performance they have had this season.
Why is Messi not eligible for the All-Star Game?
Despite the fact that Messi is expected to be presented on 16 July and the duel of the league’s stars will be three days later, the Argentine is not eligible as he is just arriving in Major League Soccer, as happened last year with Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi and Gareth Bale. Clearly you need to have been a star of the MLS to be included in the line-up.
Messi is expected to have his first official run out with his new Miami teammates in the MLS on 21 July when they face Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.
Messi could still be an All-Star
The roster for the MLS All Star Game is chosen by the fans, the media, the coach who will be on the bench for each team and the league commissioner.
Despite this, there is still a chance that we may see Messi during the All Star festivities. Insigne, for example, was also just joining Toronto FC last year but was selected to take part in the Skills Contest, As it turned out he didn’t participate due to a personal matter but maybe one of the greatest players to have ever graced The Beautiful Game may do just that...