Lionel Messi’s last-minute absence from the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday raised questions about whether the Inter Miami star was dealing with an injury or had simply opted out. Amid the speculation, head coach Javier Mascherano has now provided a clear update on Messi’s status.
The annual showcase took place Wednesday in Austin, Texas, with the MLS All-Stars facing off against Liga MX’s top talent. Representing Inter Miami, both Messi and Jordi Alba were selected to the roster—but neither joined head coach Nicolás Estevez’s squad for the game.
Mascherano addressed the media on Friday and shed light on the situation, citing the club’s demanding recent schedule as a factor: “This week was a long one for us. We took advantage of it after the number of matches and trips we had in both June and July to help the players recover.
“Part of the plan was that only today, both him (Messi) and Jordi will rejoin group training, as they haven’t trained with the group during the week,” Mascherano added, confirming that neither player had participated in any sessions leading up to the All-Star break.
Is Lionel Messi injured?
While the MLS confirmed on Wednesday that Messi and Alba would not take part in the All-Star festivities, no official injury designation was given. When asked directly about Messi’s fitness, Mascherano didn’t hesitate to clarify.
“He showed normal fatigue from the number of matches and minutes he’s been playing. Players always have discomfort, especially when playing every three days. Fortunately, today he’ll rejoin training, and we hope he can train alongside the group so we can count on both of them for tomorrow’s match.”
Inter Miami are set to face FC Cincinnati on Matchday 26 of the MLS season. With both Messi and Alba missing the All-Star Game, there was some concern about a potential one-game suspension looming over the club. Mascherano addressed that possibility succinctly: “We haven’t received any notification up to this point.”