Messi and De Paul Excused from 2026 MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte

Major League Soccer confirms Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will skip the mid-season exhibition against Liga MX following their international duties.

Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will not participate in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game against the Liga MX All-Stars, scheduled for Wednesday night at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. Major League Soccer issued an official statement on Saturday, July 26, 2026, at 12:12 PM ET, confirming that the Inter Miami pair has been granted an exemption from the mid-season showcase. This decision ensures the Argentine captain avoids the mandatory one-game suspension he incurred during the previous season’s festivities.

Key details

The ruling follows the conclusion of the World Cup final on July 19, a match in which both Messi and De Paul featured prominently. Since that tournament finale, neither athlete has logged minutes for Inter Miami in their recent domestic triumphs over the Chicago Fire or CF Montreal. Reports indicate that Messi has traveled back to his hometown of Rosario to recuperate following the championship defeat.

Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas had previously criticized the league's disciplinary measures, describing the 2025 suspension as "draconian" and stating the forward was "extremely upset" by the penalty. To prevent a recurrence of such friction, Major League Soccer and the MLS Players Association ratified a new protocol before the 2026 campaign began. This framework requires clubs to conduct individual consultations with players returning from major international tournaments to establish personalized recovery schedules.

This specific league policy mirrors a global agreement reached between FIFPRO and FIFA, which mandates a 21-day rest period at the end of every competitive season. The Saturday announcement clarified that the Inter Miami duo met the criteria for these excused absences. They are not the only high-profile names missing from the roster; Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Hugo Cuypers have also been removed from the active squad list.

Hugo Cuypers, who currently leads the MLS Golden Boot race, was excused following his finalized transfer to Liga MX side Monterrey. To maintain a full roster for the exhibition, the league office has designated four replacements. Yannick Bright of Inter Miami, Andrés Cubas representing the Vancouver Whitecaps, Guilherme from the Houston Dynamo, and Philip Zinckernagel of the Chicago Fire have all been added to the squad.

Latest developments

Despite the absence of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, the Charlotte event will still showcase international talent including Son Heung-Min, Thomas Müller, and United States defender Tim Ream. Sources within the Inter Miami organization suggest that Messi and De Paul will likely remain sidelined for the club's next two competitive fixtures to ensure full physical recovery.

The 2026 World Cup campaign, which concluded just days ago, has been cited by many analysts as the final confirmation of Messi’s status as the preeminent male athlete in history. The All-Star Game remains the centerpiece of the league's summer calendar, pitting the best of MLS against a selected XI from Mexico's top flight.

League officials emphasized that the health of marquee players remains a priority, especially following a grueling international summer. The new rest mandates are designed to protect the longevity of stars who compete across multiple continents and competitions. Fans in Charlotte will see a modified lineup, but the competitive nature of the cross-border rivalry remains the primary draw for the Wednesday evening kickoff.

With the addition of Yannick Bright, Inter Miami maintains a presence in the squad, even as their primary stars focus on rehabilitation. The Vancouver Whitecaps see their midfield bolstered in the selection process with the inclusion of Cubas, while the Dynamo and Fire also gain representation through the late roster adjustments. The match will proceed with these updated squads as the league transitions back to its regular season schedule following the international break.