Lionel Messi and Argentina have reached the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face England on July 15. A victory would send the defending champions to the July 19 final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Messi has also been selected for the MLS All-Star Game on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. If Argentina reaches the final, only 10 days would separate the 2 events, creating another potential scheduling and recovery issue for the Inter Miami forward.
What is happening now
Argentina has advanced to the 2026 World Cup semifinals and will face England on July 15. If Argentina wins, it will play in the July 19 final at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The MLS All-Star Game will follow on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
Messi was selected for the 2026 MLS All-Star roster through the league’s First XI process. Under the policy enforced in 2025, a player who missed the All-Star Game without prior league approval was ineligible for his club’s next match. MLS has not publicly confirmed whether a World Cup finalist would receive an exemption or how the policy would be applied in such a case.
The 2025 suspension explained
Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba did not participate in the 2025 MLS All-Star Game in Austin, Texas. Because they had not received prior league approval for their absences, MLS ruled both players ineligible for Inter Miami’s next regular-season match against FC Cincinnati.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber described the decision as difficult and said he respected Messi’s choice, but he cited the league’s long-standing All-Star participation policy. Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas criticized the punishment and said he strongly disagreed with the decision.
Garber responds to the 2025 criticism
MLS Commissioner Don Garber said he did not believe any player had done more for the league than Messi. He added that he respected Messi’s decision to miss the 2025 All-Star Game but said MLS had enforced a long-standing participation policy.
Garber also acknowledged Inter Miami’s unusually demanding schedule, noting that Messi had played 9 matches in 35 days while many other MLS players received a midseason break. He said the league would work with players and clubs to review how the policy would operate going forward.
Argentina reaches the semifinals
Argentina defeated Egypt 3-2 in the round of 16 before beating Switzerland 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Messi scored all 3 goals against Switzerland, becoming the oldest player to record a World Cup hat trick and moving past Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Argentina will face England in the semifinals on July 15 in Atlanta. The winner will meet Spain in the July 19 final after Spain defeated France 2-0 in the other semifinal.
Fun fact: Messi is the first player ever to score in 6 straight World Cup knockout matches.
Messi’s workload adds to the scheduling question
Messi entered the World Cup after balancing Inter Miami’s club schedule with Argentina’s preparations for the tournament. He has since played a central role in Argentina’s run to the semifinals and leads the 2026 World Cup scoring race with 8 goals.
A place in the July 19 final would extend Argentina’s tournament to the latest possible date and leave Messi 10 days before the MLS All-Star Game. His availability would depend on his physical condition, travel, recovery, and any decision reached by Messi, Inter Miami, and MLS.
Why the rule still applies
The All-Star participation rule exists to protect the event’s credibility. MLS relies on star power to market the showcase against a Liga MX All-Star team. Without meaningful enforcement, top players could routinely skip the event, undermining its commercial and competitive value entirely.
That said, the rule does not account for extraordinary circumstances, such as a World Cup final. 10 days is a narrow window for recovery after an emotionally and physically draining tournament. Critics argue the league should grant automatic exemptions to players who compete deep into major international events.
What could happen next?
If Argentina falls short of the final, the entire debate becomes moot and Messi likely plays in Charlotte as scheduled. But if they advance, MLS faces a genuine dilemma. Suspending its most famous player again so soon after his previous punishment would draw fresh criticism from fans and pundits alike.
League officials have signaled openness to adjusting the policy, but no formal changes have been announced yet. Garber previously stated a commitment to working directly with Messi to update the rule. Whether that update arrives before July 29 remains uncertain as the World Cup progresses toward its final rounds.
Little-known fact: Messi has converted just 4 of his 8 career World Cup penalties, missing 2 in 1 match this year.
TL;DR
- Argentina has reached the 2026 World Cup semifinals and will face England on July 15. A victory would send the defending champion to the July 19 final at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- Messi has been selected for the MLS All-Star Game on July 29 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. If Argentina reaches the World Cup final, only 10 days will separate the 2 events.
- MLS ruled Messi ineligible for 1 Inter Miami match in 2025 after he missed the All-Star Game without prior league approval.
- Commissioner Don Garber acknowledged the controversy surrounding that decision and indicated that MLS would review its participation policy. The league has not publicly clarified how it would handle Messi’s situation if Argentina reaches the 2026 final.
- A deep Argentina run would leave MLS, Inter Miami, and Messi with a decision about his recovery, availability, and participation in Charlotte.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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