MLS commissioner speaks on Lionel Messi missing All-Star Game

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :July 24, 2025 at 11:20 PM

Modified at :July 24, 2025 at 11:20 PM

The Argentine didn’t participate in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, although he was named in the MLS All-Stars squad.

Don Garber, the commissioner of Major League Soccer (MLS), spoke on the current uproar over Lionel Messi missing the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, which was held at Austin, Texas’s Q2 Stadium.

Many supporters were disappointed that Messi did not play, despite the excitement surrounding the star-studded event, in which the MLS All-Stars team defeated Liga MX All-Stars 3-1. But Garber was quick to clarify the league’s rationale behind the choice.

MLS commissioner defends Lionel Messi’s absence from the All-Star game

“We have an All-Star Game that we believe is a true priority,” Garber stated during a press conference following the match. “But we also have a player who has played nine matches in just 30 days. Inter Miami has had a very different schedule from every other team. Leo played 90 minutes in every one of those games. We need to manage that as a league.”

Lionel Messi Inter Miami MLS — MLS commissioner defends Messi’s exclusion from All-Star game (Photo via Getty Images)

In those outings, Messi has already participated in the FIFA Club World Cup, the Concacaf Champions Cup, and now the MLS regular season. His physical condition has suffered as a result of his unrelenting performance during these tournaments.

Messi and Inter Miami’s technical staff decided that, even though the Argentine was not technically injured, it would be better for him to take rest during the All-Star break to reduce the chance of injury or weariness in the second half of the season.

Messi has participated in 29 games so far in 2025, logging 2,481 minutes on the field. With 18 goals and seven assists in 18 MLS games, four Club World Cup appearances, and seven Concacaf Champions Cup games, his performance has remained spectacular.

Fans and experts alike have been impressed by his ability to maintain his dominance at 38, but the coaching staff had little option due to the accumulation of minutes.

Messi’s exclusion from the All-Star Game highlights the difficulties of leading top players through a demanding season as Inter Miami prepare for important upcoming games in the MLS and the Leagues Cup.

Has Messi ever played in the MLS All-Star game?

He has never played in an All-Star Game.

Who is the MLS commissioner?

Don Garber is the commissioner of the league.

When will the Herons play next?

They will play FC Cincinnati next on Saturday.

What did Don Garber say on Messi’s absence?

Garber defended Messi for not playing the All-Star Game, as he played nine matches in just 30 days.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.