The World Cup gave MLS unprecedented momentum. Keeping it will depend less on signing aging icons than convincing America’s best young players to stay“Thanks World, we’ll take it from here,” is Major League Soccer’s message to the American public. Yet two moves in the last week were emblematic of the issues the league faces in taking on the mantle of North America’s hosting of the game’s grandest stage.A rising, under-the-radar homegrown player left for Europe, and a veteran with immense pedigree arrived, likely to close out his career. Sebastian Berhalter’s swapped title-chasing Vancouver Whitecaps for Middlesbrough of the EFL Championship. Free agent Brazil legend Casemiro traded Manchester’s Old Trafford for Nu Stadium in Miami. Continue reading...
With the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game set to begin on Wednesday, Lionel Messi and Rodrigo de Paul are the two most notable absences for the event in Charlotte. The MLS All-Star team is set to square off against the Liga MX All-Stars on Wednesday, July 29, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte for the eighth edition of the North American showcase match. As anticipation builds ahead of kickoff, the absence of Inter Miami superstars Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul stands out as the most glaring omission from tonight’s rosters. Lionel Messi and Rodrigo De Paul will not feature in the 2026 All-Star Game after receiving official load-management clearance from Major League Soccer. The decision stems directly from their grueling summer run at the 2026 World Cup, where the Argentine duo played through the final on July 19, leaving them without an adequate offseason recovery window. Having pushed through to the final against Spain, Inter Miami worked with league officials to coordinate an authorized rest period for the pair. Thanks to this special exemption, neither Messi nor De Paul will face disciplinary action or league-mandated suspensions, avoiding the situation Messi encountered last season following an unsanctioned absence. Having been granted time off from the midsummer exhibition, both Argentine stars received extended downtime following their international duties. Messi officially returned to Inter Miami’s training facility on Wednesday to begin his ramp-up period, while De Paul has yet to rejoin the squad under manager Guillermo Hoyos. POV: Morning greetings with the squad 😁☀️ pic.twitter.com/1ZAodv1BW4— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 29, 2026 With the superstars sitting out, rookie midfielder Yannick Bright will serve as Inter Miami’s sole representative on the MLS All-Star squad. Even without Messi, the roster boasts plenty of star power, headlined by LAFC’s Son Heung-min and Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Thomas Muller making their All-Star debuts, alongside forwards Sam Surridge (Nashville SC) and Petar Musa (FC Dallas). Noteworthy absences for the MLS vs. Liga MX All-Star Game Messi and De Paul lead a high-profile list of missing marquee names for tonight’s exhibition, particularly notable given that Messi has yet to participate in an All-Star Game since arriving in MLS in 2023. However, several other featured stars from both leagues will also sit out tonight’s contest. On the MLS side, Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi was ruled out following his World Cup run with South Africa. Liga MX suffered notable hits as well: Pumas UNAM goalkeeper Keylor Navas will miss out due to a knee injury setback, while 17-year-old Tijuana prodigy Gilberto Mora was dropped from the squad without an official explanation from his club or the league.
The 2026 MLS All-Star Game will pit the best players from MLS against the best from Liga MX in Charlotte. The 2026 MLS All-Star Game takes place this Wednesday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, pitting the league’s best against a Liga MX all-star squad in a rivalry that continues to grow every year. This year’s edition arrives with plenty of storylines, from young breakout talents to World Cup-tested veterans on both sides of the border. One notable absence looms over the occasion: Lionel Messi won’t be suiting up for MLS. The Inter Miami captain is still working through his mandated rest period following Argentina’s run to the World Cup final. His teammate Rodrigo De Paul finds himself in the same situation, also sidelined for the exhibition as part of that same post-tournament recovery window. Neither player will face any sanction over their absence, since the league was informed of their unavailability well in advance and both were left off the roster from the start. Their absence opens the door for other players to headline the occasion, and MLS has no shortage of star power to lean on. Son Heung-Min, Thomas Muller, and a mix of proven MLS regulars and rising prospects make up a 29-player squad selected through a combination of coach’s picks, commissioner’s selections, and fan voting. Our best. Their best. 🥊Watch the MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX All-Stars at 8pm ET on Apple TV: https://t.co/9ojkoIf5TD pic.twitter.com/R0WmikKJT1— Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 29, 2026 On the Liga MX side, the Mexican league has put together a 24-player roster under coach Antonio Mohamed, the reigning Coach of the Year, featuring five players who took part in the World Cup and a dozen Liga MX champions. MLS All-Star roster Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau (Orlando City), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC). Defenders: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids), Richie Laryea (Toronto FC), Anthony Markanich (Minnesota United), Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Chicago Fire), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Daniel Munie (San Jose Earthquakes), Andy Najar (Nashville SC), Jackson Ragen (Seattle Sounders), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC). Midfielders: Pep Biel (Charlotte FC), Yannick Bright (Inter Miami), Andres Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Carles Gil (New England Revolution), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake), Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC), Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps), Ashley Westwood (Charlotte FC). Forwards: Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC), Guilherme (Houston Dynamo), Julian Hall (New York Red Bulls), Son Heung-Min (LAFC), Petar Musa (FC Dallas), Sam Surridge (Nashville SC), Philip Zinckernagel (Chicago Fire). Coach: Dean Smith (Charlotte FC). Liga MX All-Star roster Goalkeepers: Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna), Carlos Moreno (Pachuca). Defenders: Bruno Mendez (Toluca), Federico Pereira (Toluca), Jesus Gallardo (Toluca), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Omar Campos (Cruz Azul), Willer Ditta (Cruz Azul), Israel Reyes (America), Jesus Garza (Tigres), Luis Rey (Guadalajara), Nathan Silva (Pumas). Midfielders: Alexei Dominguez (Pachuca), Elias Montiel (Pachuca), Carlos Rodriguez (Cruz Azul), Jose Paradela (Cruz Azul), Fernando Gorriaran (Tigres), Juan Brunetta (Tigres), Franco Romero (Toluca), Iker Fimbres (Monterrey), Kevin Castaneda (Guadalajara). Forwards: Javier Ruiz (Necaxa), Robert Morales (Pumas), Salomon Rondon (Pachuca). Coach: Antonio Mohamed (Toluca).
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
