Lionel Messi has been sensational throughout the 2025 Major League Soccer season, but his presence in the All-Star game is now suddenly in question.

Should Messi and Alba fail to participate in the game without a documented injury, they could be handed a one-game suspension by MLS. The former Barcelona players would then have to miss out on Inter Miami’s all-important match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday, July 28.

Expectation began to rise once again after the MLS All-Star squad list was released, including Inter Miami legend Lionel Messi on it. Speculation has swirled around Lionel Messi’s potential participation in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game after the Argentine missed training sessions with the squad.