Hold up, folks. Lionel Messi, the biggest draw in Major League Soccer, will NOT be on the pitch for the 2026 MLS All-Star game happening July 29 in Charlotte. Twenty-nine players were chosen to represent the league against an all-star roster from Liga MX, but the GOAT himself won’t be among them, and honestly, the reason totally makes sense.
The FIFA Mandate That Keeps Messi Off The Field
So, why is Messi out of the July 29 showcase match? It’s all because he just reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with Argentina. That massive effort earned him some serious mandated rest and recovery time, a requirement set by FIFA and the FIFPRO player’s union. Basically, Messi is allowed at least 21 days of rest starting from the day his team was eliminated from the World Cup before he can be forced back into action. His club and international teammate, Rodrigo De Paul, is also missing the All-Star game for the exact same reason. And get this: unlike last season, when Messi was banned for one game for an unexcused absence from the 2025 All-Star match, this time his absence is totally excused. FIFA and FIFPRO agreed that all players must get at least 21 days off after each season. Even though the MLS season is still going strong, FIFA sees the World Cup as the “end of the season” for most European leagues, so all World Cup players get this crucial post-tournament break before jumping back into the grind.
What This Means for Inter Miami and the All-Star Roster
Don’t expect to see Messi back in training anytime soon. Following that 21-day mandate, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul don’t have to be back with Inter Miami until at least August 9, or maybe even later if the club is cool with it. It’s a mutual understanding between the club and the players on their return. Given Messi is now 38 years old, it’s totally possible he might ask for more than the minimum rest time; his body might not bounce back as fast as younger athletes. While they *could* return before the 21-day window closes, it would have to be their choice, because Inter Miami can’t force them. Meanwhile, the MLS All-Star roster itself was built through a multi-step process. The initial starting XI came from fan, player, and media votes. Then, the rest of the squad was filled out by the All-Star coaching staff,led by Charlotte FC’s Dean Smith this year, since Charlotte is hosting,and the league office. Finally, MLS Commissioner Don Garber even added two players to the squad for the 2026 game, rounding out the 29 chosen players. It’s a stacked roster, for sure, even without the biggest name in the game!
So while Messi won’t be lighting up Charlotte, the MLS All-Stars still have a huge challenge facing off against Liga MX XI. We’ll be keeping an eye on Inter Miami to see when Messi makes his eventual return to the pitch post-August 9. Can’t wait for that!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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