Will Inter Miami captain Leo Messi participate in this year's MLS All-Star match?

Herons' captain leads MLS All-Star First XI announced Friday

European and South American soccer leagues don't play "all-star" matches. The idea of an exhibition match to showcase individual players' talents is contrary to their competitive business models. Instead, top teams and their players are showcased in their national and regional club competitions (FA Cup, Copa Libertadores, etc.)

So, when Inter Miami's Jordi Alba and Leo Messi of Inter Miami received one-match suspensions from Major League Soccer for skipping the All-Star Game last year, they were angry and upset.

“Obviously it was not a positive reaction,” Herons' managing owner Jorge Mas told reporters of the players' reaction to the punishment. “They want to compete. They want to play games. That’s what they’re here for: to play and win."

MLS has a rule requiring players selected to the team to participate in the event. Messi was excused in 2024 because he was injured; Alba and teammate Sergio Busquets did participate in the match and skills competition that year, their first full seasons in the league. But Alba and Messi chose to rest rather than participate last year -- Busquets was not selected to last year's squad -- because Inter Miami was facing what eventually became the most demanding club schedule in league history. The Herons played 58 official matches in 2025 -- the most ever by a league club -- when they competed not only for the MLS Cup but also for CONCACAF Champions Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Leagues Cup titles.

The Argentine and Spanish stars served their suspension during a 0-0 tie with Eastern Conference rival FC Cincinnati.

“They understand the magnitude of tomorrow’s night’s game," Mas said before that important league match, "so the reaction was exactly as expected out of two competitive players who don’t understand the decision, who don’t understand why not attending an exhibition match leads directly to a suspension. The rule is what it is, but they don’t understand it.”

Messi, who became the first player to win back-to-back Major League Soccer MVP awards, shared his frustration after assisting both goals in a 2-1 Leagues Cup win against Atlas in the first match after his suspension.

“The truth is that it was difficult with the heat, and not having played the other day.... for me, it's worse because I need to compete.

“I feel good physically the more matches I play and get into rhythm. The other day they didn’t let me compete, and I felt it in the first half, but the important thing is that we won.”

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