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.

Lionel Messi was touted to make his MLS All-Star Game debut this week. However, the Inter Miami forward was nowhere to be found during the MLS All-Stars first training session on Monday. News broke last week that Messi wouldn’t participate in the 2025 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge the night before the actual game.

After missing Monday's team practice ahead of the MLS All-Star Game, it remains uncertain whether star Inter Miami players Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba will appear on the pitch.