Inter Miami’s Argentine boss Javier Mascherano wasn’t shy about his worries when the league announced the 2025 MLS All-Star Game roster. He told anyone who’d listen that asking Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba to suit up for a showcase match, right after a grueling FIFA Club World Cup run, was a recipe for disaster. Fast forward to the day of the game in Austin, Texas, and both stars vanished from the lineup, sparking a ripple of controversy that still feels fresh.
Mascherano’s warning and its fallout
When the All‑Star lineup was revealed on June 25, fans and media cheered the inclusion of the two global‑named players. Their votes earned them spots alongside a mix of MLS regulars and Liga MX All‑Stars. Yet the excitement quickly turned to speculation when neither Messi nor Alba appeared in the training‑day photos or the skills challenge that built up to the event.
Mascherano had already spoken out, saying the exhibition felt “unnecessary” for a club already juggling a tight schedule. He highlighted the risk of burnout, especially after the Inter Miami squad logged a marathon of matches in the Club World Cup and the regular MLS season. "I’d rather see my players rest than run an extra friendly," the coach told a local press conference, making it clear his priority was the team’s long‑term health.
Hours before the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff, MLS released an updated roster—Messi and Alba were gone. The league’s statement cited “unforeseen circumstances” but didn’t give a medical reason. For fans, the news was a gut punch: the marquee names that draw TV ratings and ticket sales were suddenly missing from the showcase against Liga MX All‑Stars.
Mascherano later painted a clearer picture. Messi, he said, was simply “tired” after logging massive minutes, while Alba had taken a knock in a July 19 clash with the New York Red Bulls. Neither player was injured in a way that demanded a long recovery, but both were flagged as needing a break.
League rules, suspensions and wider implications
MLS doesn’t take no‑shows lightly. The rulebook states that any player who skips the All‑Star Game without an approved medical exemption faces a one‑game suspension. True to form, both Messi and Alba were handed that penalty, meaning they missed Inter Miami’s next match against FC Cincinnati on July 26.
- Both players sit out the club’s important league fixture.
- The suspension fuels debate over league‑mandated appearances for star athletes.
- Fans who bought tickets hoping to see Messi and Alba feel short‑changed.
- Inter Miami loses two key contributors at a pivotal moment in the playoff chase.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber weighed in with a diplomatic acknowledgment: "I know Lionel Messi loves this league. No one has done more for MLS than Messi, and I respect his commitment to Inter Miami." Garber’s remarks tried to balance appreciation for the player’s influence with the league’s need to enforce its policies.
The situation mirrors a 2018 incident when LA Galaxy’s Zlatan Ibrahimović skipped the All‑Star Game and was suspended—a move he later called “ridiculous.” The pattern shows an ongoing tension: the league wants its biggest names on stage to draw eyes, while clubs protect their stars from extra wear and tear.
For Inter Miami, the short‑term pain may be manageable. Messi has kept his scoring touch, netting a brace in a win that clinched the team’s second straight MLS playoff berth. His form keeps him in the conversation for the 2025 MVP award, and his presence continues to lift the club’s profile despite the missed All‑Star appearance.
Alba, meanwhile, is expected to recover fully after the minor knock, and his defensive stability remains a cornerstone for the team. Both players’ absence from the All‑Star Game may disappoint the league’s showcase, but it also underscores a growing reality in modern soccer: star athletes are increasingly protected from unnecessary matches to preserve performance and longevity.