Why MLS All-Star Game will miss two of league’s biggest stars: Messi, Suarez

Two of the biggest stars in Major League Soccer won’t be at the league’s All-Star Game this week. 

Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez will both miss their first MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday due to injury, Inter Miami announced in a statement Monday. 

Messi has been dealing with a right ankle injury he suffered during the Copa America final for champion Argentina, while Suarez will miss the match due to knee discomfort after his Copa America run with third-place Uruguay. 

Messi, Suarez, midfielder Sergio Busquets and leftback Jordi Alba were each voted in by fans for the MLS-All-Star game. Now, only Busquets and Alba will represent the club at MLS All-Star week in Columbus, Ohio. 

“Leo Messi will miss the All-Star Game due to an ankle injury, while Luis Suárez, who recently returned from international duty after over 40 days away from the Club, will miss the All-Star Game due to knee discomfort,” the club said in a statement. 

“And their availability for Saturday’s Leagues Cup match will be assessed based on their daily recovery process.”

Inter Miami returns to action Saturday, hosting LIGA MX side Puebla in their first Leagues Cup match at Chase Stadium. They will also face Tigres UANL in Houston on Aug. 3 during the tournament, which Inter Miami won last year. 

Suarez was able to play in both matches, wins against Toronto and Chicago, after playing extensively in Uruguay’s third-place win over Canada during Copa America. Suarez scored the game-tying goal to force a penalty shootout and scored the winning penalty kick in his last major international match for Uruguay, but played sparingly during most of the tournament. 

Inter Miami enters the MLS All-Star break with the best record (16 wins, five draws, four losses), and 53 points atop the Eastern Conference standings.