Messi out of the MLS All-Star game

Major League Soccer (MLS) has officially granted Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, of Inter Miami, an exemption from participating in the 2026 All-Star Game, following his outstanding performance with his national team during the 2026 World Cup. The All-Star Game is scheduled to take place next Wednesday at Charlotte Stadium in North Carolina, where stars from the MLS and the Canadian Soccer Association will face off against a team of Mexican league players. In an official statement, MLS explained that the exemption is in accordance with an agreement reached before the start of the 2026 season, which stipulates granting exceptions to players who continued their participation in the World Cup, especially since the tournament was held mid-season, resulting in a seven-week hiatus in MLS play. The statement also indicated that the players' association was consulted beforehand, with clubs holding individual meetings with their players after the World Cup to determine the appropriate rest period and a gradual return-to-training and play program. The decision also included an exemption for Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's teammate at Inter Miami, after both players featured in the World Cup final against Spain. Despite the absence of Messi and De Paul, the All-Star Game will feature a number of the league's top stars, led by South Korean Son Heung-min of Los Angeles FC, German Thomas Muller of Vancouver Whitecaps, and American Tim Ream of Charlotte and the United States national team.