Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber declined to say whether Lionel Messi has been punished after he abruptly pulled out of the All-Star game in Austin. The Inter Miami and Argentina superstar, along with Jordi Alba, is expected to play against the Liga MX All-Star team.
The news broke that Messi and Alba will not be able to play, according to Inter Miami, but the reason is unclear. According to MLS rules, players selected for the All-Star game must participate unless there is a valid reason, such as injury. As a result, Messi could be suspended for one game and miss Miami's match against FC Cincinnati.
Garber said they can't say what the next step is yet. "There's no announcement yet. We're still talking about it," he said. He also stressed that Messi is tired after playing nine matches in 35 days, including the Club World Cup and domestic matches.
Garber added, "We have rules and we have to follow them. We want Leo here, but we also have to manage the situation." He also admitted that Miami should have told them earlier about Messi not playing.
Messi, who joined MLS in 2023 after winning the World Cup with Argentina, has had a major impact on the league. He has boosted MLS ticket sales and global attention, similar to the impact David Beckham had in the past.
