Messi and Alba Face Suspension for All-Star Game Absence

Major League Soccer announced Friday that Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba of Inter Miami will serve one-match suspensions for their absence from the All-Star Game.

Despite being fan favorites and voted into the match against Liga MX, both players opted out. Messi chose to rest due to a demanding schedule, while Alba was managing a prior injury.

According to league regulations, players who miss the All-Star Game without prior approval are barred from participating in their club's subsequent match.

This means Messi and Alba will not be available for Inter Miami's upcoming home game against FC Cincinnati, currently leading the Eastern Conference.

As the league deliberated on the matter, both players trained with their team on Friday, preparing for what they hoped would be a chance to play on Saturday.

"Lionel Messi loves this league," stated MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "No one has contributed more to Major League Soccer than Messi. I respect his commitment to Inter Miami and understand his decision."

Garber acknowledged the enforcement of the league's longstanding policy regarding All-Star participation, describing it as a challenging choice. He also mentioned plans to reassess the policy in collaboration with players to adapt the rule moving forward.