▲ Son Heung-min and Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi of Inter Miami, who played in the final of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, will not participate in the 2026 Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game.
In a statement released on the 26th (Korean time), the MLS office announced, "Prior to the start of this season, MLS and the MLS Players Association agreed that players participating in the World Cup would determine appropriate rest, training, and return-to-play schedules through individual consultations with their clubs." It added, "In accordance with that agreement, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul (both of Inter Miami) are exempt from the obligation to participate in the MLS All-Star Game."
Messi and de Paul played as members of the Argentina national team in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup final against Spain, which took place on the 20th at New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States.
Argentina lost 0-1 to Spain after extra time, falling short in their bid for consecutive tournament titles and having to settle for the runner-up finish.
Following the conclusion of the final, ESPN reported, citing sources, that Inter Miami had notified the MLS office of Messi and de Paul's absence from the All-Star Game, and the MLS office officially confirmed their absence on this day.
As a result, fans will not be able to see Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Messi share the pitch and combine for goals in the 2026 MLS All-Star Game against the Liga MX All-Star team from Mexico.
The 2026 MLS All-Star Game will be held at 9:00 AM on the 30th, Korean time, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min has been included in the roster for the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, which takes place the day before the All-Star Game.
The Skills Challenge is an event where players compete in various techniques, featuring five categories: shooting, passing, goalkeeper showdown, crossbar challenge, and a relay team competition involving dribbling, passing, and shooting.
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