Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba Won't Play in MLS All-Star Game, Face Possible Suspension

Inter Miami stars Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will not play in Wednesday's MLS All-Star Game, which means they may not be allowed to take the field for their club's next match either.

MLS insider Tom Bogert and Paul Tenorio of The Athletic reported that the league confirmed Messi and Alba will not participate in the contest. As Tenorio explained, the league has a rule that states uninjured players who opt out of the All-Star Game are suspended for one league match in an effort to encourage more participation in the contest.

"The league office needs to speak with the club before we confirm player availability for Saturday," an MLS spokesperson said while not confirming either will face a suspension.

Messi skipped last year's All-Star Game as well, although he was recovering from an ankle injury he suffered in the Copa América final. Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez also missed last year's All-Star Game and was not suspended, although it was determined he was dealing with "knee discomfort."

Perhaps Messi and Alba will also be diagnosed with some type of discomfort and avoid a suspension this year.

That would be ideal for Inter Miami, because they face a critical game against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. FC Cincinnati just destroyed Messi and Co. 3-0 in their previous match last Wednesday and sit atop the MLS standings with 48 points.

Inter Miami is in fifth place in the Eastern Conference with 41 points, although they have played three fewer games than the four teams they trail in Cincinnati, Nashville, Philadelphia and Columbus.

A head-to-head win over Cincinnati would go a long way toward climbing up the standings in the Supporters' Shield race, although that will be far more difficult if Messi and Alba are suspended.

The MLS has been known to enforce the All-Star Game suspension rule in the past and did so with LA Galaxy forward Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2018.

"I think it is ridiculous, but yeah, no comments," Ibrahimović said at the time. "They do whatever they want. I come from a different world, I come from the real world.

"It is what it is. I respect in the end, and I'm sorry for my teammates only that I could not help them in the game. But yeah, people are interested in different things. They lose on it, and for me it doesn't matter."

The MLS All Stars will face the Liga MX All-Stars without Messi and Alba on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas.