Major League Soccer (MLS) commissioner Don Garber has refused to confirm whether Lionel Messi will face disciplinary action following his last-minute withdrawal from Wednesday’s All-Star Game in Austin, Texas.
Messi and his Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba were both set to start in the match, where an MLS All-Star XI defeated Mexico’s Liga MX side 3-1.
However, news broke hours before kickoff that the duo would not participate — a move that potentially puts them in violation of league rules.
According to MLS policy, players selected for the All-Star Game must take part unless they have a valid reason, such as injury. Failure to comply typically results in a one-game suspension.
Speaking to reporters before the match, Garber declined to address whether Messi would be sanctioned, stating, “Anything that’s going to happen as relates to next weekend, we’re not going to talk about today. We’re managing through this process as we speak.”
Messi’s absence comes despite having played a full 90 minutes and scoring twice for Miami in a win over the New York Red Bulls just days earlier.
While not indicating an injury, Garber acknowledged Messi has endured a grueling schedule, with nine matches in 35 days across multiple competitions.
“Miami’s had a schedule that is unlike any other team,” Garber said. “Most of our teams had a 10-day break. Miami hasn’t.”
Still, the commissioner conceded that communication could have been better. “We should have known earlier,” he admitted. “We should have addressed it earlier. No doubt about that.”
Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano had hinted over the weekend that both Messi and Alba needed rest but had not confirmed any official decision to skip the game.
Since joining MLS in 2023, Messi has had a transformative impact on the league, significantly raising its global visibility and ticket demand.
When asked if David Beckham remained MLS’s most influential player, Garber concluded: “MLS wouldn’t be what it is today without David Beckham, but MLS wouldn’t be what it is today without Leo Messi either.”
