Messi Withdraws from MLS All-Star Match

Lionel Messi will not feature in Major League Soccer’s All-Star match this week, with organisers confirming that the Argentine forward has been granted rest following a demanding schedule of competitive football.

Major League Soccer authorities announced on Saturday, 26 July, that the Inter Miami star will sit out the exhibition fixture, scheduled to take place on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. The annual contest will see a selection of the league’s standout performers face a team composed of top players from Mexico’s Liga MX, a fixture that has grown in stature in recent years.

Messi is not the only notable absentee. Three other players have also been withdrawn from the All-Star squad. They include former Chicago Fire forward Hugo Cuypers, Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, and Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi. Each absence reflects a different circumstance, ranging from workload management to transfers and injury concerns.

Messi and De Paul have both been afforded rest after an extended period of international duty with Argentina, where they were involved in a demanding World Cup campaign. The decision to prioritise recovery aligns with a broader effort by clubs and national teams to manage player fitness more carefully, particularly for individuals carrying heavy minutes across multiple competitions.

Cuypers, meanwhile, has recently completed a move from Chicago Fire to Mexican side CF Monterrey, rendering him unavailable for the fixture. Mbokazi’s withdrawal is injury-related, with the South African defender sidelined due to a lower-body issue.

In response, MLS officials have named four replacements to the All-Star roster. Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright has been called up, alongside Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andrés Cubas, Houston Dynamo forward Guilherme, and Chicago Fire forward Philip Zinckernagel. Each has demonstrated consistent form this season, earning recognition at a crucial stage of the campaign.

Bright has been particularly influential for Inter Miami, starting 12 matches in which the club recorded nine wins, two draws, and just one defeat. Cubas has contributed three assists across 12 appearances, offering stability in midfield. Guilherme has made a strong impression in his debut season with Houston Dynamo, registering eight goals and five assists. Zinckernagel has also been productive, tallying five goals and seven assists.

Messi’s absence inevitably reduces the star power of the occasion, given his global profile and impact since arriving in MLS. Even so, the fixture retains considerable appeal. The clash between MLS and Liga MX continues to draw attention, fuelled by the quality of players involved and the competitive edge that has developed between the two leagues.