Inter Miami CF's Lionel Messi will not play in this week's MLS All-Star Game, as announced by the league on Monday. This decision comes after the Argentina superstar sustained an ankle injury during his team's Copa América final win over Colombia, eight days ago. Messi's teammate Luis Suárez will also be absent from the game due to knee discomfort, while their fellow former Barcelona stars, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, are set to participate.
Messi has been sidelined for Miami's last two league matches, both resulting in victories over Toronto FC and the Chicago Fire. The 37-year-old forward, who joined Inter Miami in July 2023 after a successful career in Europe, was looking forward to making his MLS All-Star Game debut. In his first 12 games of the 2024 season, Messi has already contributed 12 goals and 13 assists, setting a record for the quickest 25 goal contributions in an MLS season. Inter Miami currently leads the Supporters' Shield standings with 53 points, boasting an impressive performance under Messi's leadership.
