Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba not showing for MLS All-Star Game

The midsummer spectacle of the MLS All-Star Game, pitched this year as a highly anticipated clash between Major League Soccer’s finest and a selection of Liga MX stars, has been dealt a significant blow. Inter Miami’s marquee signings, Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, will not be participating in the showcase event. Their absence, confirmed just days before the fixture, compounds an earlier withdrawal by Brazilian playmaker James Rodríguez, leaving a considerable void in the star power intended to headline the inter-league exhibition. The news sends a ripple of disappointment through the league and its fanbase, who had eagerly anticipated seeing these global icons grace the All-Star stage.