Overview
- Inter Miami notified Major League Soccer that Lionel Messi will skip the MLS All‑Star Game and ESPN reported that both Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will not play the club’s next two league matches.
- Both players completed Argentina’s full World Cup run, with Messi playing every minute of the final, and the club cites that workload in deciding to rest them.
- FIFPRO has recommended a 21‑day rest period after the season and FIFA and FIFPRO previously agreed on a minimum 72‑hour rest between World Cup matches, a framework clubs are using to manage returns.
- Team and league officials describe the absences as precautionary rather than injury withdrawals, but Messi’s 2025 unsanctioned All‑Star skip and resulting suspension set a recent precedent that shapes scrutiny.
- Inter Miami sits near the top of the Eastern Conference and may have to adjust lineups for Leagues Cup and early‑August MLS fixtures if the rest extends into that period, creating short‑term competitive strain for the club.