The 2026 MLS All-Star Game is set to light up Charlotte, North Carolina, as the league’s brightest talents prepare to take on a star-studded Liga MX XI at the historic Bank of America Stadium.
Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul will not feature in the exhibition, a decision that stems from a pre-arranged agreement between MLS, the MLS Players Association and the players’ own schedules.
Both stars have also been absent from Inter Miami’s recent fixtures, a stretch that includes the much-anticipated debut of Brazilian midfielder Casemiro, who has yet to see action on the pitch.
Rest Policy Aligns With Global Standards
The arrangement reflects FIFAPro’s regulations, which grant players a minimum of 21 days of recovery after a World Cup final before they are expected to return to club competition.
As a result of the mandated break, Messi and De Paul are not expected to rejoin Inter Miami until mid-August, leaving the club to rely on other reinforcements for the upcoming stretch of matches.