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<ul><li>Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba not on final MLS roster</li><li>MLS supporters divided between tickets, load management</li><li>Social media reacts to the Argentine's decision</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'Terrible look for Major League Soccer' - Social media reacts to Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba skipping league's All-Star Game

Major League Soccer

Inter Miami CF

Vancouver Whitecaps

<p>Lionel Messi's decision to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/inter-miami-lionel-messi-jordi-alba-mls-all-star-game/bltbbfc0bfe3d8ad945" target="_blank">skip the 2025 MLS All-Star Game</a> despite being voted into the lineup triggered reaction across social media. The Argentine wasn’t the only one, as Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba is also skipping the event. </p>

WHAT HAPPENED

<p></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is laughable. <br><br>Good on Messi if anyone deserves the rest, it’s him, but this is a terrible look for Major League Soccer. <a href="https://t.co/V2vA6oRwaU" rel="sponsored">https://t.co/V2vA6oRwaU</a></p>— herculez gomez (@herculezg) <a href="https://twitter.com/herculezg/status/1948069023457132944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/MLS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">@MLS</a> you clowns, you expect Messi to play when he’s played every 3 days &amp; has got important games coming up in the league.<br><br>This is his only time to rest as he’s 38 years old.<br><br>MLS isn’t serious, who tf plays an all star game in the middle of season</p>— Shuayb (@SGolazok) <a href="https://twitter.com/SGolazok/status/1948057626824085800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The MLS All Star Game is one of the few things that sets the league apart from the rest of the global soccer landscape. <br><br>If you think Lionel Messi playing in it wouldn’t help grow MLS, you’re mistaken. Just a few clips of him in action could generate massive interest from fans… <a href="https://t.co/mNZ7wW8bqI" rel="sponsored">pic.twitter.com/mNZ7wW8bqI</a></p>— Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) <a href="https://twitter.com/FavianRenkel/status/1948067756353700167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Messi can’t make the All star game? His replacement is already lined up 🤝🏻<a href="https://t.co/jdvShuSOlF" rel="sponsored">pic.twitter.com/jdvShuSOlF</a></p>— Zack (@zwoller14) <a href="https://twitter.com/zwoller14/status/1948066830548914291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Messi's absence from the All Star game reveals so much: the athlete's pettiness,  the league's tiresome over-reliance on their star, all for an unnecessary event Americans openly dislike, and one held in the middle of a very busy season. Why?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">#MLS</a> <a href="https://t.co/3amsWWIn0N" rel="sponsored">pic.twitter.com/3amsWWIn0N</a></p>— Celso Oliveira (@celsoliveira_) <a href="https://twitter.com/celsoliveira_/status/1948063510904357123?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I could envision a world in which MLS says:<br><br>“Due to unprecedented schedule congestion that included a historic Club World Cup run, Messi was allowed to miss All Star Game to rest.<br><br>“As such, no ban and he can play vs FC Cincinnati.”<br><br>Something like that.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InterMiamiCF?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">#InterMiamiCF</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Messi%F0%93%83%B5?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">#Messi𓃵</a> <a href="https://t.co/5qLsERpt9s" rel="sponsored">pic.twitter.com/5qLsERpt9s</a></p>— Franco Panizo (@FrancoPanizo) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancoPanizo/status/1948050559191187721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Advertised him to sell tickets and then he pulls out. Shame.</p>— Adzter (@Adzter961) <a href="https://twitter.com/Adzter961/status/1948060256971497862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Messi refusing to play in the MLS All Star game?<br><br>Stop voting for him <a href="https://t.co/jO39ncigCV" rel="sponsored">pic.twitter.com/jO39ncigCV</a></p>— Sam/FIFA Brit (@FIFABrit) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIFABrit/status/1948056475772788935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Need MLS to file a class-action lawsuit against Messi for the All Star game no show 🙏🏼</p>— Mike Martignago (@MikeMartignago) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeMartignago/status/1948061475870040348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Noo don’t punish messi, he needs rest” “he’s played so many games he can skip a friendly”<br><br>Have you watched an all star game? My guy they replace the entire lineup every 15 minutes</p>— cheese 🟧🟦 #BuildBackBrenner (@cream_my_cheese) <a href="https://twitter.com/cream_my_cheese/status/1948061877956681796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">He was never expected to. Lionel Messi to MLS is all a marketing exercise. Playing domestic all-star games does nothing for the global position of MLS.<br><br>Messi is still scoring braces every game. Keeping him fresh and preserving his excellence is the best advert for MLS worldwide. <a href="https://t.co/za0Td5c8IS" rel="sponsored">https://t.co/za0Td5c8IS</a></p>— TC (@TransferChecker) <a href="https://twitter.com/TransferChecker/status/1948064370497601907?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="sponsored">July 23, 2025</a></blockquote>
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SOCIAL MEDIA REACTION

<p>The 29th edition of the MLS All-Star Game will be played Wednesday night in Austin, Texas, with top MLS players taking on Liga MX All-Stars.</p>

WHAT’S NEXT?

'Terrible look for Major League Soccer' - Social media reacts to Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba skipping league's All-Star Game | Goal.com South Africa

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is not on the final MLS All-Star Game roster, sparking reaction across social media

&apos;Terrible look for Major League Soccer&apos; - Social media reacts to Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba skipping league&apos;s All-Star Game