Audio By Carbonatix
Lionel Messi dared the MLS to punish him for skipping out on the All-Star Game. The league is instead choosing to bend its knee to one of the greatest soccer players of all-time.
He gets a free pass.
Messi and Jordi Alba, both of Inter Miami, did not play against the Liga MX side during a 3-1 victory for the MLS All-Star team on Wednesday night. They skipped out on practice during the week and did not even show up to the game, even though the elder of the two is one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport.
He is the biggest draw for the American soccer league.
Don’t get me wrong. I completely understand the basis for his decision! The 38-year-old has played an unhealthy amount of games and minutes for a 38-year-old over the last few weeks. He needs to rest!
Fans were furious.
However, a portion of Lionel Messi’s record-breaking $20.5 million salary is subsidized by equity in the league and revenue-sharing agreements. The biggest star in MLS history should be at the All-Star Game.
It was an insult to the fans!
More than 20,000 people purchased full-price tickets to the All-Star Game at Q2 Stadium in Austin under the assumption that Messi would be playing because he was voted to the roster. That was not the case.
Per MLS rules, any player who opt not to participate for non-injury reasons will be suspended for his club’s next match. Just not Lionel Messi or Alba….
Lionel Messi won’t be punished for no-showing the MLS All-Star Game.
Commissioner Don Garber gave them both a pass because of their grueling schedule over the last few weeks with the Club World Cup. They will be eligible for Inter Miami’s next match. They won’t be fined.
“He’s played 9 matches in 30 days. Miami has had a schedule unlike any other team. Most of our teams had a 10-day break. Miami hasn’t. We had Leo playing 90 mins in almost all the games he’s played.”
— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) July 24, 2025
Just as I had predicted.
This one is on the house, Don.#InterMiamiCF #Messi https://t.co/eC6NvyNhjh pic.twitter.com/Wk3Fr9xsLM
I don’t have an issue with the logic here. I have an issue with the approach.
Either come out and say Lionel Messi won’t be punished because he is Lionel Messi, suspend him for not playing, or force him to sit on the bench for 80 minutes of the All-Star Game and sub him on for the last 10. For the MLS to make an excuse, despite its valid reasoning, sets a dangerous precedent and sends a message to the fans that it does not care what they want. What’s the point?
Skip the game, fine. I have no issue with it. But the MLS needs to suspend him for skipping the game.