Texas. – Argentine Lionel Messi and Spaniard Jordi Alba, both Inter Miami players, will not play in the MLS All-Star Game against Liga MX this Wednesday, despite the fact that this decision could result in a one-match suspension in their league .
Both Messi and Alba are missing from the rosters released by MLS for the match at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.
In both cases, the organization announces that the players were named on the original roster but will ultimately not participate in the match, without disclosing the reasons.
For other members who were also left off the final roster, MLS did reveal the reasons for their absence.
The two Inter Miami players’ participation in the All-Star Game was up in the air after missing both practices leading up to the All-Star Game. Alba was also scheduled to compete in yesterday’s skills competition.
Unless a player is injured, MLS imposes a one-game suspension on those who decide not to attend the All-Star Game. That’s what happened to Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2018 when he was with the LA Galaxy.
Neither Messi, whose jerseys were even being sold for his participation in the All-Star Game , nor Alba were part of the promotional poster published this Wednesday by MLS for the match, in which they would have faced former Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos, now in Monterrey.
On the Mexican side, there was also a notable absence this Tuesday: Colombian James Rodríguez (León), who was also scheduled to participate in the skills competition but ultimately did not compete.
Inter Miami has been immersed in a packed match schedule in recent weeks due to its participation in the FIFA Club World Cup, which forced the club to play five matches in just 15 days.
Asked about this, his coach, Argentine Javier Mascherano, said that he preferred his players to use the week to rest and not play in the All-Star Game, and that in the end it was a decision for the players.
Messi also missed last season’s All-Star game, citing injury.
Another reason that could have led to Messi’s snub from the All-Star Game is that his teammates Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets were not called up.
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