Why has Leo Messi never played in an MLS All-Star Game after four seasons in the league?

MLS is gearing up for another edition of the All-Star Game, where the league’s top talent will once again face off against a marquee squad of Liga MX stars. However, in recent days several high-profile absences have been announced—including Lionel Messi.

Since joining Inter Miami in 2023, Messi has stood out for his absence from the All-Star events, despite being the game meant to gather the league’s brightest stars.

Aside from 2023—which took place immediately after his arrival—the Argentine superstar has missed the next three editions in 2024, 2025, and now 2026 due to various circumstances. As a result, Liga MX and its top talent have repeatedly missed out on the chance to go up against one of the greatest players in history.

Notably, all three editions Messi has missed featured MLS taking on Liga MX—a match that serves as the high-profile prelude to the summer Leagues Cup.

With this latest withdrawal, the 2022 World Cup winner remains one of the major disappointments surrounding an event that holds significant weight in American sports culture. MLS adapted the All-Star concept from leagues like the NBA, MLB, and NFL, but for the third straight year, its main attraction will be watching from the sidelines.

Why hasn’t Messi played in the MLS All-Star Game vs. Liga MX?

2023 MLS All-Star Game: This edition took place during Messi’s first few months in MLS. Although the roster had already been announced prior to his signing, the Argentine was eligible to join the squad via a commissioner’s invitation from Don Garber. Ultimately, Messi did not participate, forcing the league to wait another year for his potential All-Star debut.

2024 MLS All-Star Game: MLS expected to feature Messi in 2024, but those plans were derailed by an ankle injury he sustained during the 2024 Copa América final in Miami. The injury sidelined him for the midsummer showcase, marking his second consecutive absence.

2025 MLS All-Star Game: The 2025 event in Austin looked like Messi’s long-awaited debut. He entered the week fully healthy, but in a surprise turn of events, both the Inter Miami star and teammate Jordi Alba skipped the game. The move resulted in Messi’s third straight missed All-Star Game and triggered an automatic one-game league suspension under MLS rules.

2026 MLS All-Star Game: This year’s event in Charlotte brings the same outcome for Messi and MLS. The 2022 World Cup winner will once again sit out, this time to rest following his workload at the 2026 FIFA World Cup—a break granted to both Messi and fellow international teammate Rodrigo De Paul.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.